Roaring Lion enhances Derby claims with dominant Dante victory

Any questions marks about whether Roaring Lion would stay 1m2½f were answered in scintillating fashion on Thursday when the colt ran out an emphatic four and a half length winner of the Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes at York.

Last seen finishing fifth behind Saxon Warrior in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas earlier this month, the colt showed he has stamina in abundance with his authoritative display.

Ranjan Racing bred Roaring Lion out of the Grade 1-placed Street Sense mare Vionnet, herself a half-sister to the Graded winners Schiaparelli and Moulin De Mougin. Further back, this is the family of Grade 3 scorer California Flag.

Dante Stakes result and replay

Offered by Taylor Made Sales Agency at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2016, David Redvers went to $160,000 to secure him.

Roaring Lion looks to be another talented performer to emerge across the pond for Kitten's Joy, the son of El Prado who is renowned as a top-class turf sire in the US.

His best-known performer on these shores is perhaps Hawkbill, one of 11 top-level scorers sired by the Hill 'n' Dale resident. That number also includes Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Bobby's Kitten, the only son of Kitten's Joy standing in Europe at Landwades Stud in Newmarket.

Roaring Lion's stamina can be attributed in part to his sire Kitten's Joe as he was effective from a mile upwards and significantly, he landed the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont in 2004 - run over the Derby trip of 1m4f.

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