Eleven winners of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes have gone on to win the Epsom Derby. Today's result at York at 16:05 determines whether a twelfth name joins that list. Here is the complete historical record and what it means for today's race.
The Roll of Honour
The first horse to complete the Dante-Derby double was St Paddy in 1960. In the 66 years since, ten more have added their names: Shahrastani (1986), Reference Point (1987), Benny The Dip (1997), Authorized (2007), Golden Horn (2015), Desert Crown (2022).
Golden Horn's Dante-Derby double in 2015 was one of the most complete Classic campaigns of recent decades. He won the Dante at York by two lengths, then the Derby by three and a half, then the Eclipse, the Irish Champion Stakes and the Arc. His Dante performance was described at the time as one of the most impressive in the race's history — he tracked the pace, moved effortlessly to the front and went clear without being asked for maximum effort.
Desert Crown in 2022, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, became the most recent Dante-Derby winner. Stoute's assessment — "if you win the Dante, you don't have to improve much to win the Derby" — remains the most concise explanation of why the race's predictive value is so high.
Why the Conversion Rate Is So Strong
York's Knavesmire over a mile and a quarter tests the same qualities that Epsom demands over a mile and a half. Sustained galloping ability, the capacity to respond when challenged, and the mental strength to handle a competitive Group 2 race before the pressure of the Derby itself. A horse that wins the Dante by travelling powerfully and finishing strongly has demonstrated all three qualities in a public, competitive context — not in a quiet trial or a gallop at home.
The 2025 Dante Was Not a Classic Guide
Last year's Dante was won by Pride Of Arras at 18/1 for Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan. Pride Of Arras did not go on to win the Derby. Lambourn, who had won the Chester Vase and skipped the Dante, won the Derby instead. The lesson: a Dante win guarantees Classic credentials but does not guarantee Derby victory — particularly when a strong Chester Vase winner skips the York race.
This year Benvenuto Cellini has also skipped the Dante after winning at Chester. Today's winner faces the same comparison as any Dante winner who must beat a Chester Vase winner at Epsom.
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Facts verified via web search May 14 2026.