The winners of all four Group Two races at the 2024 Dante Festival each went on to be Group One victors by Christmas.

With the entries for 2025 confirmed as below, we know who might follow; Mill Stream - 1895 Duke of York Clipper Logistics & July Cup, Bluestocking - Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Middleton & Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Economics- Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Dante & Irish Champions Stakes , Giavellotto- Boodles Yorkshire Cup & Hong Kong vase.

The opening day of the Knavesmire season sees the sprinters in the limelight. A two- time York winner in Starlust will hope to display the form which landed a Breeders Cup Triumph. Others with both Group One and York  winning form could oppose; local hero Art Power offers Tim Easterby a strong start, with Montassib another who has won at both the top table. The joy of a new season is that new stars can be born, connections of Kind of Blue certainly hope so.

Thursday 15 May sees a pair of famous contests both backed by Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai. For older fillies and mares, the Middleton has often heralded a golden summer. Kalpana was last seen crossing the line ahead on British Champions Day in the Group One contest for her sex. Another winner over course and distance is Secret Satire who took the last running of the Tattersalls Musidora. Her Majesty the Queen, Royal Patron of York  Racecourse, would be particularly pleased to see Rainbows Edge lift the trophy having carried the royal silks.

With eight dual Dante/Derby winners already in the pedigree book, it is no surprise that the Top 10 in the betting markets for the Epsom Blue Riband are potentials for the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Dante. These include the first three home in the Tattersalls Acomb  of last August, headed by impressive The Lion In Winter.

Friday means the focus shifts to the staying division. A fascinating Boodles Yorkshire Cup could unfold as entries include a pair of former Sky Bet Ebor winners in Trawlerman & Absurde, now trained by William Haggas,  Term of Endearment won the Group Three William Hill Bronte over course and distance last May, that’s before you get to the last two winners of Sky Bet Great Voltigeur, being Continuous and Illinois.

The coming weeks will determine who will pick up the mantle of the illustrious winners in 2024, we do know it will be richly deserved, whomever takes these titles.

A full list of entries for the four races can be found here.