Starting signal for the Dante Festival

York, Wednesday, 11 May: The Dante Festival takes place over three days in York. The first highlight today is the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes (3rd race/16.00/140,000 pounds/1207 m).

Dragon Symbol (David Egan) competes under new management. Switched from Archie Watson to Roger Varian, the four-year-old is looking to build on his strong performances from last year. His best performances include a couple of wins, honours in the King George Stakes (Group 2), the July Cup/Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) and third here in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) behind Emaraaty Ana (Andrea Atzeni), who finished second and later fourth in the Breeders` Cup Sprint (Group 1). Minzaal (Jim Crowley) pleased in his last start in the Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) when third ahead of Vadream (Daniel Tudhorpe) and Highfield Princess (Jason Hart), among others. Happy Romance (Sean Levey), who lost out to Emaraaty Ana in Haydock`s Sprint Cup, has added considerably to her tally with placings in the desert this year. Garrus (Ryan Moore) narrowly missed out on victory in the Abernant Stakes (Group 3). Rohaan (William Buick) won three in a row a year ago.

The Musidora Stakes (4th race/16.35pm/125,000 pounds/2063m) is a pointer for the upcoming Oaks. A year on from Snowfall, Aidan O`Brien could strike with the Galway-winning The Algarve (Ryan Moore). The seasonal debutant will be up against Emily Upjohn (Frankie Dettori) and Life Of Dreams (William Buick), who have already shown up this year, with John and Thady Gosden and Charlie Appleby responsible respectively. Luna Dorada (Rob Hornby) and Ching Shih (Jim Crowley) won their first races two-year-olds, they are among the outsiders according to the English bookmakers.