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Libertarian upsets Dante Sent off at 33-1 after finishing a distant fourth in the Sandown Classic Trial last out on April 26, Libertarian took a leap forward for the Elaine Burke stable to upstage some of the big stables' Derby hopefuls in Thursday's Group 2 Dante at York. Having impressed when off the mark in his April 9 debut in a small affair going 10 furlongs at Pontefract, the bay fared best of the home-trained representatives when eight-lengths fourth behind the Irish raiders Sugar Boy, Eye of the Storm and Galileo Rock at Sandown and may have done better had he not been interfered with in the straight. Held up early in the trailing trio, which included 11-4 favorite Indian Chief, the New Approach sophomore was one of the first to come under pressure approaching the quarter-pole and received two smacks with William Buick's whip. Trying hard as Indian Chief was sent past by Joseph O'Brien, Libertarian made up a five-horse line across the track in contention for the win at the furlong marker and 100 yards later began to assert from the Ballydoyle raider and the stand's-side runner Trading Leather. "He's a proper horse, but not having had many Derby horses, you are tilting at windmills a bit," said the trainer's husband and former trainer, Karl Burke. "It's a great win for the yard and we've always thought a lot of him. "Last time was a nonsense of a race and he was stuck on the outside of a horse that was hanging badly and drifting out. It posed more questions than it answered and he was left in no-man's land, plus he came back from Sandown and coughed for five days. "He is such a green horse and a big, backward animal that has taken a long time, so that's why we've come back again. It was only in March that he started to pick up in his work and he's done nothing but improve since then. He wants a mile and a half and he's improving every week, but is very lethargic at home even though you can see he has something. Until a week ago, I was against coming here but on Friday I thought he was coming back to himself. "If he handles Epsom, he'll be one of the genuine mile-and-a-half-plus horses in the race. I think we've got a puncher's chance in the Derby and, as a yard, we've been punching above our weight for a long time now. We go there with nothing to lose." Buick was not playing the surprise result down afterward and simply added, "It was a true-run race and the best horse won on the day." Jim Bolger revealed that Trading Leather will take in next Saturday's Irish Two Thousand Guineas at The Curragh followed by a tilt at the June 29 Irish Derby. Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Telescope could still be on course for the June 1 Epsom Derby after connections revealed that they are looking at a racecourse gallop next week. Forced out of his planned blue riband prep in the Dante after suffering from a minor infection to grazes on his legs, the Sir Michael Stoute trainee was reported to be recovering well. "I spoke to Sir Michael yesterday and it was good news. I spoke to him this morning and that news continues to be really good," Highclere's Harry Herbert said. "We're not out of the woods, but Sir Michael hopes to have him back cantering tomorrow, so he won't have missed too much and we'll be hopefully on course to work at a racecourse next week. "Whether he's fit enough and well enough to risk him in the Derby will be Sir Michael's decision. You've got to be absolutely spot-on for that and although we're excited about the horse, we'll only do the right thing by him. Sir Michael will want to run him, but only if he is absolutely happy that he is over this issue fully. We won't know until he's had a racecourse gallop and had a serious blow afterwards. I don't know where it will be -- Sir Michael will decide nearer the time." One race earlier on the program, Dalkala settled behind the leading trio early on in the Group 2 Middleton, was committed on the front end passing the quarter-pole and despite being pressed on both sides was always holding the edge. "She stays very well, so I took the lead a little bit early but she managed to keep her rhythm," jockey Christophe-Patrice Lemaire said. "She could win a Group 1, as she has really improved this year and this race will help her to improve again." Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre added, "I know she is a good filly and her prep race was a big advantage as she was very fit today. She stayed on and got a good pace here, which in France is always a problem." Dalkala had looked like a Prix de Diane filly when winning the Prix Cleopatre going 1 5/16 miles at Saint-Cloud last May, but was unable to make a serious impact in the Chantilly classic a month later when fifth. Third in Deauville's Prix de Pomone over a quarter-mile farther in August, the dark bay upped her game to annex the Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp in October before finding the near two-mile trip of the Prix Royal-Oak too far when fifth back at that venue later that month. Returning to be fourth in the Prix d'Harcourt over 10 furlongs back at Longchamp last out on April 7, the Giant's Causeway four-year-old had suffered a troubled journey from her native France but overcame that setback to add to her tally in Thursday's weak-looking renewal of the Middleton. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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