Teofilo's Permian Takes the Dante

Thursday's G2 Betfred Dante S. at York was without its main attraction in Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), but the Oppenheimer homebred ultimately earned greater kudos by staying away as Permian (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) emerged clear-best in this vital blue riband trial. Second to that Gosden trainee in Epsom's Investec Derby Trial over 10 furlongs Apr. 26, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's bay had since added the May 6 Listed Newmarket S. to his tally with authority at that trip but attracted only minor interest in the betting with the emphasis on less-exposed types. Always happy tracking the honest pace under Franny Norton, the 10-1 shot moved past TDN Rising Star Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) approaching the furlong pole and on to a 3/4-of-a-length success, with another TDN Rising Star Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in third a half length behind. “It was a very straightforward race and I suppose they all expected Permian to make the running, but they have gone off very fast and he travelled beautifully,” trainer Mark Johnston said of the winner, who it was later confirmed will be supplemented for the G1 Epsom Derby June 3. “It was very much John Ferguson's idea to supplement for this race and the rest of us were hesitant about it, but he pushed it and pushed it and Epsom was clearly on his mind after Newmarket. He's clearly progressing, but I can't say we weren't fearing Cracksman coming here. I wasn't thinking of the Derby a few weeks ago, but you could see from two out today he was going to win.”

Thursday, York, Britain
BETFRED DANTE S.-G2, £185,700, YOR, 5-18, 3yo, 10f 56yT, 2:08.40, g/s.
1–@PERMIAN (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Tessa Reef (Ire) (MSW-Fr), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
2nd Dam: Massaraat, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Pasadoble, by Prove Out
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Darley (IRE); T-Mark Johnston; J-Francis Norton. £105,310. Lifetime Record: 10-5-2-2, $212,285. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Benbatl (GB), 126, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Nahrain (GB), by Selkirk. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor. £39,926.
3–Crystal Ocean (GB), 126, c, 3, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Crystal Star (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £19,981.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 2. Odds: 10.00, 4.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Rekindling (GB), Wolf Country (GB), Forest Ranger (Ire), Syphax, Exemplar (Ire), Swiss Storm (GB), Contrapposto (Ire). Scratched: Cracksman (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Off the mark on debut over seven furlongs on Kempton's Polytrack last June, Permian was second in a conditions event at that trip at Ayr the following month before bouncing back to win a mile nursery at Windsor in early August and a conditions race also at that distance at Ripon eight days later. After his subsequent fifth in Newcastle's Blaydon Race Nursery sticking at a mile later that month, it could have beeen argued that he had reached the upper limit of his capabilities but a short break and a step up to 10 furlongs resulted in an improved performance when third behind TDN Rising Star Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Listed Zetland S. at Newmarket in October. Back with a third as the topweight in a class 2 handicap on firm ground over nearly 12 furlongs at Bath Apr. 14, the homebred gave Cracksman fans a scare in the Investec Derby Trial when looking to have that rival beaten everywhere bar the line before going down by a short-head. The third home, Bay of Poets (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), was 1 3/4 lengths behind and was subsequently beaten less than that by the current Derby favourite Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Chester's Listed Dee S. and the well-beaten fourth Tartini (Giant's Causeway) went on to be third in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial. Handed this opportunity after improving again to score by 4 1/2 lengths in the Newmarket S., Permian seized it with the relish of a colt still on the ascent.

Following the Godolphin trio of Wolf Country (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Benbatl and Swiss Storm (GB) (Frankel {GB}) throughout the early stages, he moved smoothly as the pace sorted out the field halfway down the straight. Committed by Franny Norton with the furlong pole just ahead, Permian readily asserted from Benbatl as Crystal Ocean stayed on with promise. “He's gone from strength to strength this year and at Epsom I probably took him there five to 10 strides too early,” his rider commented. “He's a tough campaigner and got what he deserved today. I couldn't pull him up, but I like him over this trip.”

John Ferguson was delighted afterwards as he contemplated a three-pronged assault on the Derby with this race's first two and the Lingfield Derby Trial winner Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). “It was a genuinely-run race. William [Buick] was keen to make it on Wolf Country and gave Franny a chance to sit in,” Godolphin's chief executive said. “Permian finished it off really well, with Benbatl at his girths all the way down the straight. I've already spoken to Sheikh Mohammed and he is as thrilled as we are and is very keen to have this horse supplemented for the Derby. Saeed [bin Suroor] had Best Solution win the Lingfield Derby Trial and Benbatl finish second in the Dante so we have to sit down, think, decide and talk to Sheikh Mohammed about that and what he thinks is the right thing to do. It's just great to be in a season where so many three-year-olds have a live chance and no doubt in time we will find out exactly where they stand. If Churchill stays the mile and a half he is going to be a very tough nut to crack, but these horses all deserve to take their chances and it's just great to be going to the party.” Benbatl's trainer Saeed bin Suroor added, “I'm happy with that, he still needs more experience but he's learning all the time. He shows us he is a good horse at home. A mile and a quarter looks to be his trip, but we're still looking at the Derby as his aim, along with Best Solution. Obviously, Sheikh Mohammed will make the decision.” Sir Michael Stoute expressed reluctance to commit Crystal Ocean to a Derby tilt, but refused to rule out the possibility. “I wouldn't, but he has an owner that might want to,” he said.

Out of a dual listed winner over a mile and nine furlongs in Tessa Reef, Permian is therefore a half-brother to Second Wave (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) who was runner-up in last year's 10-furlong Listed Wolferton H. at Royal Ascot and the MSP Samana Cay (Authorized {Ire}) who also stayed this far. The second dam, the Listed Prix Amandine scorer Massaraat, is a full-sister to the great Miesque (Nureyev), whose top-class progeny Kingmambo, East of the Moon (Private Account), Miesque's Son and Mingun all excelled at up to a mile and a quarter. The family, which also features the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Rumplestiltskin (Ire) (Danehill) and the European champion Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}) among many others, does feature a trio of fillies who made a mark at an exalted level at the Derby trip. They are the G2 Ribblesdale S. heroine Silkwood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), last year's G1 English and Irish Oaks runner-up Architecture (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Tapestry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), successful in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks at this venue. Tessa Reef also has a yearling colt by New Approach (Ire).