Mark Johnston targeting Mildenberger at the Dante at York
Following a successful start to his three-year-old campaign at Newmarket last month, Mildenberger will test his Derby credentials - for which he would have to be supplemented for - in the Betfred Dante Stakes at York.
MARK JOHNSTON will run Mildenberger in the Betfred Dante Stakes at York on May 17 to see if the three-year-old should be supplemented for the Epsom Derby.
Johnston's son of Teofilo returned to action with a victory in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in mid-April and whilst he doesn't have an entry in the Epsom Classic, he could be supplemented at the cost of £85,000 should he prove his worth on the Knavesmire later this month.
Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father, said: "He won well at Newmarket. He really stuck his head down and galloped out to the line and the first two were six lengths clear of the third.
"The way he finished off that race he looks like he is crying out for a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half in time.
"If he can go to the Dante and run well then we can dream of going to Epsom in June."
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The Middleham-based trainer won last year's Dante with the ill-fated Permian before supplementing him for the Epsom Classic.
Johnston jnr added: "Through the winter I did say on a few occasions when people were around the yard if we were going to have another Permian this would be the horse.
"I loved him at two and he was a very nice horse at that stage, but we always knew whatever he did last year he was going to better this year as he is a huge, big, scopey horse.
"We always hoped he might be able to follow in Permian's footsteps to some degree."
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Dee Ex Bee finished third in the Derby Trial at Epsom last week, but connections have not given up hope of earning a Derby shot.
Johnston said: "I'm sure if we could have our time again we would ride the race at Epsom differently. James (Doyle) said he was slowly away and that meant he was a lot further back than you would have liked.
"He has got an entry in the Newmarket Stakes on Saturday, but the likelihood is, I would say at this stage, is that he will go for the Chester Vase or to Lingfield for the Derby Trial.
"He is really looking already that he wants a mile and a half. In the back of our mind we are half-thinking of the Queen's Vase and the St Leger.
"In the short term, he will be campaigned with the hope of getting him to Epsom."