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Sir Michael Stoute is "not getting carried away" ahead of Midterm's much anticipated Derby trial in the Betfred Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

A son of Galileo out of the brilliant racemare Midday, the three-year-old is certainly bred in the purple.

Midterm has upheld family honour admirably thus far, making a successful debut at Newbury on his only appearance at two before getting on top close home on his seasonal reappearance in Sandown's Classic Trial three weeks ago.

Stoute's charge is a hot favourite to extend his unbeaten record on the Knavesmire and confirm his place as Britain's leading contender for Epsom, but the master of Freemason Lodge is staying grounded.

He said: "He came out of his (Sandown) race in good form but he shows us very little at home. That was the same in his preparation before Newbury, he's never done an impressive bit of work. That's him.

"At least we know he does it on the racecourse, he went to Sandown and answered the questions there.

"We don't know whether that form is good enough. We've got to come through another trial so it's early days."

Stoute, who has saddled five previous Derby winners, said: "Shahrastani and North Light won the Dante, but Workforce got beaten, he had an excuse, though.

"We'd welcome a sixth Derby, but we're a long way from that yet.

"Of course there's excitement there, but we're not getting carried away."

Midterm carries the colours of Khalid Abdullah, who won the Derby for a third time with Stoute's Workforce in 2010.

The owner's racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, said: "We were very pleased with Midterm's reappearance in the Classic Trial at Sandown.

"He has always been a hard horse to gauge because he does very little in his homework but wakes up at the racecourse. Obviously, this is another big step for him and we are looking forward to the race.

"He will need to come on and improve. It is going to be a good test for him.

"I've always considered it the definitive Derby trial. You only have to look back to last year to see how true that is with Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs. But you can go back a lot further - there is a list of illustrious winners of the Dante.

"He has done well with a bit of cut in the ground. He has got a very good, smooth action so I would think he would suit fast going as well."

John Gosden has saddled two previous Dante winners and both 1997 victor Benny The Dip and last year's hero Golden Horn went on to claim Derby glory.

This year the Clarehaven maestro fires a twin assault, with the highly-rated Foundation joined by little-known stable companion Wings Of Desire.

Foundation won his first three starts as a juvenile, but was a beaten favourite in the Racing Post Trophy and also suffered defeat on his return to action in last month's Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

Harry Herbert, racing manager for Foundation's owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: "Foundation is in good form and worked very well on Saturday. I've spoken to John and he's very pleased with the horse.

"Everyone at Highclere is excited at having the second favourite for a race as prestigious as the Dante. Let's all find out where we stand.

"I wouldn't read too much into the Craven scenario. He was beaten by a better horse (Stormy Antarctic) over the trip and on that particular ground.

"We need to be going a mile and a quarter and that's going to be the most interesting thing - how much improvement that brings out in the horse going over more of a trip.

"In the Craven, Frankie (Dettori) was very easy on the horse and John always said the Craven was not the be-all and end-all. He wanted to take the freshness out of the horse before the Dante, bring him on fitness level wise. Looking at him the other day, that is exactly what it's done.

"He looks fantastic physically and his coat is looking bright and good now. He looks much better toned than he was at the Craven.

"It's a tough race as it should be. It's a Derby trial."

Dettori has partnered Foundation on his last four starts, but interestingly gets on board Wolverhampton maiden winner Wings Of Desire.

William Buick gets the leg up on his stable companion.

Hugo Lascelles, racing manager for Wings Of Desire's owner-breeder Lady Bamford, said: "It is clearly a very tough ask, but John just wants to see where we are with the horse.

"He's still a bit of an immature individual and this race will tell us a lot more."

Aidan O'Brien, who won the Dante for a fourth time with Cape Blanco in 2010, runs Deauville and Black Sea.

Deauville, the mount of Ryan Moore, has not been seen since finishing fifth in the Racing Post Trophy, having previously been beaten by Foundation in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket.

O'Brien said: "Deauville had a disappointing race in the Racing Post Trophy and it may have been that the year had been too long for him and the ground was too soft.

"He is a very solid horse and he will stay well. He will improve for the run but we are happy with him."

A lack of race fitness should not be an issue for Black Sea following last month's victory in the 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown.

"Like the other horse, we are stepping him up from a mile to a mile and a quarter," said the trainer.

"Ryan gave him a very good ride the day he won. We are looking forward to seeing what he can do."

Muntazah has not been seen in competitive action since finishing third in the Royal Lodge last September.

Trainer Owen Burrows said: "We have been pleased with Muntazah. He is working nicely and hopefully York will stay dry because we have been waiting for the faster ground for him.

"Being such a big horse, I think what we saw last year was a bonus. He was unlucky not to win first time out and on his second run he got stuck in the ground a little bit.

"He won nicely at Leicester and I thought he ran a solid enough race in the Royal Lodge.

"From past experiences, the Dante has always been the best of the trials and, although it will be tough, we should learn on Thursday where we go for the rest of the season."

The Roger Varian-trained Choreographer steps up in grade having made an impressive start to his career at Windsor less than three weeks ago.

"I have been very happy with Choreographer since his debut win at Windsor. I was impressed with his performance that day and he is entitled to have come on plenty for it," said Varian.

"It is obviously a big step up from a maiden to the Dante, but he is an exciting colt who we have always thought a lot of.

"He has shown plenty at home and we feel he deserves to take his chance in this race."

Proud Yorkshireman William Haggas saddles Victory Bond, who bolted up at Ripon on his latest appearance.

Haggas said: "It's a strong race, but our horse has done nothing wrong and won very nicely at Ripon last time.

"He's always worked like a nice horse and we'll find out how nice he is on Thursday.

"It's a race for horses with potential and there are plenty of them in there.

"I like winning any stakes race, but it's always nice to win one at York, so we'll see how we get on."

Four-time Lingfield winner Sea Of Flames, Kentuckyconnection, Harrison and Top Beak complete the 12-strong field.