How Many Dante Stakes Winners Have Won The Derby? As The Lion In Winter Aims To Be The Next

The Classic Trials are coming thick and fast at the moment, and the next wave will be at the York Dante Festival (14th-16th May) – where we are expected to see Epsom Derby favourite The New Lion advertising his claims in the Dante Stakes. 

But is the Dante Stakes a good Derby trial? How many Dante Stakes/Derby winners have there been in total and which horse was the last to pull off the double?

We answer all of the above below, as we race towards the 2025 Dante Stakes on Thursday 15th May.

The Lion In Winter Looks To Become Latest Dante Winner To Follow-up In The Epsom Derby

Top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien seems to have an embarrassing number of Epsom Derby hopefuls at his disposal – especially after the recent Chester May Festival where his Lambourn and Mount Kilimanjaro both impressed on the Roodee.

The Ballydoyle maestro could also have Twain, who was a late non-runner in the 2000 Guineas – not to mention Delacroix, who impressed in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown at the end of March.

However, the O’Brien horse that is still propping up the 2025 Epsom Derby market with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK – is THE NEW LION.

This well-bred 3 year-old colt has won both his career starts in the fashion of being the next ‘big thing’ at Ballydoyle and he’ll be trying to uphold his billing in the Dante Stakes at York.

He was last seen winning the G3 Acomb Stakes over 7f at York (watch below), so we know the track suits. Plus, if his breeding is anything to go – being by 2009 Derby winner Sea The Stars – then he’s expected to be even better now stepping up in trip.

We’ll find out in the Dante Stakes, which is run over 1m 2 1/2f on Thursday 15th May, where he’s going to be a warm order with the top UK sportsbooks.

How Many Times Has Aidan O’Brien Won The Dante Stakes?

The Lion In Winter’s trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the Dante Stakes FOUR times – with his first coming in 1998 with Saratoga Springs.

He followed up in 2006 with Septimus and Black Bear Island in 2009.

While his most recent was Cape Blanco in 2010 – meaning O’Brien will head into the 2025 renewal on a run of 14 years without a Dante Stakes win.

However, if there are any horse racing fans against The Lion In Winter winning the Dante and the Derby – it could pay to note all four of O’Brien’s Dante winners failed to follow-up in the Derby.

Aidan O’Brien Dante Stakes Wins (and Derby Finish)

There Have Been 11 Dante Winners Also Win The Derby

So, just how good a Derby Trial is the Dante Stakes?

In short – not too bad, as since the Dante Stakes was first run in 1958 there’s been ELEVEN horses that also went onto win the Epsom Derby (see below).

The first was a horse called St Paddy in 1960, with the most recent Desert Crown in 2022.

While the best period for Dante winners going onto win the Derby was between 2004 and 2007 when we saw three – North Light, Motivator and Authorized – do the double.

Dante/Derby Winners Over The Years

The Last Dante Winner To Win The Derby Was Desert Crown in 2022

It was only three years ago that the Dante Stakes produced the winner of the Epsom Derby – Desert Crown.

This Sir Michael Stoute-trained 3 year-old provided the now retired handler with his sixth Derby win after scooping the Dante Stakes.

However, Desert Crown was only seen once more on the track – when running second in the 2023 Brigadier Gerard Stakes – and sadly died as a 4 year-old after not recovering from a serious fracture in October 2023.

 

Dante Stakes Race Details 2025

📅Date: Thursday 15th May 2025
⌚Time: 3:45pm
🏇Racecourse: York
🔄Trip: 1m 2 1/2f
💷Winner: £102,078
📺 TV: ITV/RTV

Dante Stakes Winners (Last 10 Runnings)

WATCH: Economics Winning The 2024 Dante Stakes

Last year’s winner (2024) was Economics – but didn’t run in the Epsom Derby.

This William Haggas runner did, however, go onto win the Irish Champions Stakes at the Curragh later that season.