Local winners of the Dante Stakes at Yorkshire are so rare Libertarian was allowed to start at 33-1 before beating Derby aspirants from some of the top British and Irish stables.
Middleham-based couple Elaine and Karl Burke became the first trainers from the county to win the Knavesmire’s important Classic trial since Snowy Gray’s Ballymarais back in 1962.
Libertarian had always been held in high regard and showed promise when a maiden winner on debut at Pontefract last month, but he would have been largely ignored due to finishing only fourth in the Sandown Classic Trial.
With Aidan O’Brien pocketing every Derby warm-up of the past fortnight, Indian Chief was the 11-4 favourite, but the trainer’s son Joseph did not receive an immediate response when he found some space and was passed by Libertarian and William Buick on his inside.
Buick had been one of the first to start pushing but his mount ended up forging a length-and-a-quarter clear of the plucky Trading Leather, with Indian Chief three-quarters of a length further back third.
“It is a great win for the yard and everyone connected with the horse,” Karl Burke said.
“I didn’t think he should be 33-1. I did get some 50s on Wednesday!
“He’s a proper horse and having not had many (Derby) horses, or Dante horses even, you are tilting at windmills at bit.
“You can see he’s still running green, and that will be a major problem in the Derby if he goes there, which he probably will.
“The way the Derby is run, he’ll need to be on his mettle, but he’ll stay.”
While Libertarian can be backed at 25-1 with Coral, the best available price on Dawn Approach is Paddy Power and Boylesports’ 5-4.
