Epsom Derby 2022: Desert Crown’s Odds shorten following Dante Stakes win

Sir Michael Stoute's Desert Crown was an emphatic winner of the Dante Stakes at York, and the hugely exciting son of Nathaniel is now challenging Stone Age for favouritism in the 2022 Cazoo Derby, which will take place at Epsom Downs on June 4...

Having only won a maiden at Nottingham - albeit impressively - before heading to York, Desert Crown was well fancied to claim victory in the Dante, and in the days leading up to the contest on the Knavesmire he was also well supported in the ante-post betting for the Derby, which certainly has a wide open look to it. However, you couldn't have been anything but impressed in the manner in which Desert Crown scooted to glory in the Dante and having been a best-priced 9/1 chance for the Derby prior to the York test, he was duly slashed into the betting to a best-priced 3/1 chance.

Travelling smoothly for Richard Kingscote on the outside of runners, he coasted towards the front of affairs as they turned for home, and as others began to falter in the closing stages, Desert Crown duly quickened in the style of a fine colt, and he went on to beat Mark Johnston's Royal Patronage by three-and-a-half lengths.

With only his second career run, Desert Crown showed tremendous speed to quicken rapidly for Kingscote's urgings, and having ran all the way to the line then the Derby trip should pose no real problems, and he's sure to be a leading contender for the Classic in a few weeks.

Having won the Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown last weekend, Stone Age immediately rocketed to the head of the Aidan O'Brien team set to head to Epsom, which included Chester winners Changingoftheguard and Star Of India, but Desert Crown's win handed the Stoute team another success in the York event, and this hugely exciting colt will now look to emulate the Stoute-trained North Light, who landed the Dante/Derby double back in 2004.