Roaring Lion bolts up in Gr. 2 Dante Stakes

Qatar Racing's Roaring Lion won the Gr. 2 Dante Stakes at York on Thursday by an impressive four and a half lengths.

Roaring Lion, winner of the Royal Lodge Stakes as a two-year-old in 2017, doubled his tally at Gr. 2 level when turning the Betfred Dante Stakes at York into a procession, easily beating second favourite Mildenberger.

Sent off the 3/1 market leader after finishing fifth in the 2,000 Guineas less than two weeks earlier, Racing Post Trophy runner-up Roaring Lion travelled like a dream through the Dante under Oisin Murphy before being produced to lead over a furlong out. He showed a terrific turn of foot to put the race to bed in a matter of strides, his rider having the luxury of being able to ease up before the line.

Roaring Lion gave trainer John Gosden his fourth Dante, including three of the last four renewals - he was also set to run Cracksman in 2017 before withdrawing him on the day.

Roaring Lion, a grey son of Kitten's Joy, now has the option of contesting the Epsom Derby on Saturday 2 June or the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly the following afternoon. When asked about the prospect of Roaring Lion running at Epsom - for which he's now generally 6/1 second favourite behind Sazon Warrior - Gosden said:

"We'll discuss it with the owner, the manager, the jockey, and then maybe we might ask the horse! We'll see."

Gosden also added: "He's a better horse than Benny The Dip." Benny The Dip won the 1997 Dante before narrowly following up in the Derby.

It's been a fantastic time of late for Qatar Racing in Stakes races with wins for Lightening Quick, Zousain and Arod, as well as Roaring Lion.