Seven of the initial 17 entries were declared for the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on Thursday morning, as Aidan O’Brien cut his eleven entries down to three, with the field looking to cement their Classic claims for next season.
Aidan O’Brien’s trio
Noble Exhibit heads the Ballydoyle stable’s chances as they seek further riches in the British trainers’ championship. The Frankel colt is two from three in his career and looked to be going the right way when winning the Beresford Stakes last time out, a race that has thrown up several winners of the Futurity Trophy, including stablemate Hawk Mountain last year.
Giant Sequoia blotted his copybook when well beaten behind Folsom Blues in the National Stakes last month, but the yard was under a cloud at the time, and he had previously won the Irish Futurity Stakes, beating City Of Dubai by four lengths more than Noble Exhibit did. He’s on the comeback trail but shouldn’t be discounted if you can draw a line through his last run.
Sergei Diaghilev has progressed with each run this season and was only a neck behind Rock Montreal in the Autumn Stakes last time out, but has to find another leg here.
British contingent
Of the British, Burning Up has the makings of a smart colt for next season and wasn’t disgraced when second in the Royal Lodge last time out. Karl Burke’s Too Darn Hot colt only began his career in August, and he shapes as if a stamina test on this soft ground will suit.
William Muir hasn’t hidden his admiration for Breacher, and he’s an improving colt. He’s looked a touch short of speed since stepping up in grade over seven furlongs, but he’s bred to appreciate a mile, for all he isn’t bred to love this soft ground.
Al Hudaiba was declared, suggesting he won’t be taken to Keeneland, and the enigmatic Dark Angel colt is a threat to all if on his best behaviour. His form has come on a quicker surface, however, so this slower ground is an unknown.
Gran Dia completes the British contingent and is a fascinating contender on just his second start. The Lope De Vega colt made a winning debut at the start of this month, certainly looking an above-average sort. Andrew Balding sprang a surprise last weekend with Mount Atlas in the Long Distance Cup, and success here could swing the trainers’ championship his way. The Kingsclere yard have won this race in recent years with Kameko, and Gran Dia remains an entirely unknown entity.
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