15 May. GB. Totesport.com Dante S. G2. York. 10,4f. Turf. 150.000 £
1.- TARTAN BEARER (R.Moore)
2.- FROZEN FIRE (J.Murtagh)
3.- TWICE OVER (T.Durcan)


HE WAS born in the same box as North Light, and the omens for Tartan Bearer following his illustrious predecessor into the Epsom winner's circle got even better yesterday when he won the principal Derby trial - the same race North Light took on the way to Classic glory in 2004.

The brother of Golan, himself a Derby runner-up, put his name firmly in the frame for the 2008 Vodafone Derby with a battling success under Ryan Moore in the Totesport.com Dante Stakes, the race won by three of the last four winners of the Epsom Classic. But there will be no place for one-time favourite Twice Over, who was ruled out after finishing only third, as was Centennial.

Tartan Bearer expanded Sir Michael Stoute's team of potential Derby runners to three when defeating Frozen Fire by a head to match the feats of Doctor Fremantle and Tajaaweed, winners of Classic trials for the trainer during last week's Chester meeting.

Of the trio, Tartan Bearer has made the greatest strides, as the colt, an 85-rated winner of a Leicester maiden before yesterday's Group 2, delighted his four-time Derby-winning trainer with a performance that earned him the mantle of favouritism from VCbet, Boylesports and Stan James, although he is 7-1 with Ladbrokes, who make Casual Conquest, still an uncertain starter, 4-1 favourite.

Stoute said: "We have three nice middle-distance colts. I was very pleased with this fellow. It just shows how progressive he is. He won his maiden at Leicester in workmanlike fashion, but that's him. He is not exhilarating in his work at home, but he will travel really well.

"I think he got in front long enough and will have learned from that. Ryan had to go for that split, but he was just there long enough. He wasn't going to get beat, but he was just doing enough there. That will sharpen him up mentally as well."
North Light, like Tartan Bearer owned and bred by Ballymacoll Stud, was Stoute's last Derby winner, and this year he will have at least two challengers with Dee Stakes winner Tajaaweed already on target. Chester Vase winner Doctor Fremantle, who carries the same Khalid Abdullah colours as Twice Over, could also now come into the reckoning as a potential supplementary entry.

Stoute added: "I am entitled to be very hopeful about the winner. I think he goes there with a chance. If you go to a Derby more than hopeful, you are a little bit unwise, but he's progressed and that was very pleasing.
"Tajaaweed will also run, and I will have to speak to Prince Khalid about Doctor Fremantle."

After sitting last on Tartan Bearer, Moore produced his mount between Young Pretender and Twice Over to hit the front inside the final furlong and hold the challenge of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Frozen Fire, the pair finishing two and a half lengths clear of Twice Over.

Trainer Henry Cecil did not blame the ground for the eclipse of Twice Over, but the decision to plan for a Derby challenge rather than the 2,000 Guineas may have been misguided as the colt appeared not to stay the extended 1m2f.

"I am not blaming the ground - the others went on it," said Cecil. "He came there nicely and emptied out. He probably got his second wind and ran on a bit, but it was disappointing really. Whether we will have to go back in distance or not, I don't know.

"It is up to the prince, but I wouldn't think he would go for the Derby on that, would you? He seemed to falter; he emptied out. You wouldn't think he was a Derby horse after that, would you?"

O'Brien has his own choice of contenders, of whom Frozen Fire is now most prominent in the betting at a top-priced 10-1 with Ladbrokes.
Jockey Johnny Murtagh said: "He ran great. He's always had a lot of ability. He ran a good trial and I thought he was going to win, but Ryan just got me.
"I suppose it was my lad's first race and Ryan's had had a run before, and his horse was just in front on the line. I think he would be a possible for Epsom."
Sandown Classic Trial winner Centennial, who was fourth, will be campaigned towards other Classics.

Trainer John Gosden said: "We were not disappointed in the slightest. I said before that a mile and a quarter at Sandown on good to soft was a stiff test. This was a fast race today on quick ground and those horses have quickened past him.
"He needs further and we will pick him up in trip to a mile and a half and we very much have the Leger in mind for him later in the year.
"He is in the Irish Derby and we would like to have a run there - I hope there is a bit of rain about."