World Domination has name to live up to

Henry Cecil's World Domination puts his huge reputation on the line in what promises to be an enlightening totesport Dante Stakes at York this afternoon.

A son of the stable's 1997 Oaks heroine Reams Of Verse, World Domination never saw the racecourse as a juvenile, but that did not stop the Newmarket dogs barking loudly about his scintillating homework. Plenty have failed to reproduce their morning glories when faced with the track but, when this much-vaunted colt finally did make it to the competitive stage at Newbury last month, he oozed class and won as he liked. He soon shot towards the head of the betting for June's Investec Derby at Epsom and his place as a Classic favourite is likely to harden further if he can see off a clutch of classy sorts on the Knavesmire.

His opposition includes another Newbury maiden winner in Sir Michael Stoute's Carlton House, who carries the colours of the Queen.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to World Domination's owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "He's pleased us and he's got a good lot to prove to make sure he's a Derby horse. But the way he trains, the way he's run and, of course, his pedigree will help that to happen. Of course his name lends itself to people thinking he's going to be a great champion. He's got to go and win now - that is the downside of it! We very much hope he's better than a maiden winner, but this is what these trials are here to find out."

Her Majesty's racing manager, John Warren, reports Carlton House's recent homework to have been very encouraging. "Ryan Moore rode him a bit of work a couple of weeks ago and he was very impressed by the amount of speed the horse had," said Warren. "Henry Cecil's horse has a bit to prove as well, so, while you could call it a mini-Derby, there are still enough horses in this field who are on the learning curve. That is what makes the Dante such a special trial. The betting for the Derby will be firmly in place afterwards."

The market suggests the only other serious challenger for top honours is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Seville, second in last year's Racing Post Trophy.

"Seville is a lovely, laid-back horse. He was always a Derby-type horse," said O'Brien. "We were never going to go another route with him."

Marcus Tregoning's Yaseer chased home Carlton House last season and showed he had trained on with an excellent third in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on his return. The trainer said: "Yaseer has been working well since the Craven and should give a good account of himself."

The six-runner field is completed by Hughie Morrison's Pisco Sour and the Michael Dods-trained Ashva.

If the Dante is any bit as thrilling as yesterday's Musidora it should be quite a race.John Gosden's Joviality edged out Barefoot Lady in a pulsating finish.

The 5-1 chance had been narrowly beaten at Sandown on her latest appearance, and was making just her third appearance in this Group Three contest. She showed signs of that inexperience in the closing stages as 1000 Guineas fifth Barefoot Lady made a real race of it.

But Joviality and William Buick pulled out all of the stops to score by a head.

Cecil's Sandown maiden winner Arizona Jewel was sent off the 11-8 favourite but she was unable to pick up when it mattered. The O'Brien-trained Amazing Beauty cut out the early running, but she also faded tamely.

Gosden said: "That filly (Barefoot Lady) wasn't going to go away - she was like a terrier and came back again. We got lucky on the nod."

Top-class miler Delegator found sprint distances to his liking when emerging triumphant in the Duke of York Blue Square Stakes. Well supported as the 5-1 favourite, Saeed bin Suroor's colt has not had much racing over the past couple of seasons, but had enough class to finish second to the great Sea The Stars in the 2000 Guineas a couple of seasons ago.

Making his first start over six furlongs, the five-year-old travelled sweetly throughout and finished strongly under Frankie Dettori up the near-side rail to score by a comfortable half a length. Regal Parade (13-2) and Tiddliwinks (40-1) filled the places.

Dettori said: "He was second in a Guineas but has got a tremendous amount of speed. We tried to tackle the mile races but he just doesn't quite get a mile so we decided to try sprinting. It worked out."

At Perth, Gordon Elliott's Trendelenberg is fancied to win the Follow @attheraces On Twitter Intermediate Hurdle.