Seven go to post for the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday afternoon, which is the final Group 1 of the Flat season and all the contenders heading to Town Moor will fancy their chances of landing a blow in what is a hugely competitive renewal. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the contest and picks out his 1-2-3 for the one mile event.
WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE
(James Doyle/James Owen)
James Owen’s WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE will look to emulate his sire Kameko by winning the Futurity Trophy and this juvenile has been on a rapid incline this season. Third in the Superlative Stakes and then second in the Acomb Stakes at York, WImbledon Hawkeye finally grabbed his group victory when winning the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket. That is top notch form and he shaped like there’s a lot more to come and he is certainly one of the standard setters here.
HOTAZHELL
(Shane Foley/Jessica Harrington)
Another consistent performer in Group races this season, Jessica Harrington’s HOTAZHELL is another heading to Doncaster looking to end his season with a top notch win. A winner in the Group 3 Tyros Stakes earlier in the season, the Too Darn Hot colt was last seen winning the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh, where he beat Tennessee Stud by three-quarters-of-a-length. He showed that day that a mile is potentially his ideal trip, so expect him to be on the vicinity here.
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Tue 22 Oct 2024DELACROIX
(Ryan Moore/Aidan O’Brien)
Aidan O’Brien has a record-breaking 11 wins in this race and the master of Ballydoyle will unleash DELACROIX, as he looks to notch up win number 12. The Dubawi colt was only seen a fortnight ago battling to victory in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket and he shaped like he could be one that improves for a step up in trip next season. He was rather workmanlike in that victory, but you can’t discount him coming from the O’Brien yard, however, he will need to improve.
THE FIELD
John & Thady Gosden’s Detain is one that heads to Doncaster with a 100% record having won two seven furlong races on the all-weather at Kempton. This is undoubtedly a major step up from those two events, but the Wootton Bassett colt looks a potential Pattern performer, so warrants respect. Charlie Appleby saddled Ancient Wisdom to victory in this race last season and the Godolphin handler will saddle the unbeaten Anno Domini here. A winner at Newbury on debut, he then followed that up with a win at Sandown and he was idling in the closing stages of that event to suggest there’s plenty more under the bonnet. A winner over a maiden on his third start at Newmarket, Seaplane is looking to kick on from that effort here, while Royal Playwright and Nebras complete the line-up.
VERDICT
A fascinating renewal that sees some hefty reputations on the line, but it’s Charlie Appleby’s ANNO DOMINI that makes the most appeal. Two wins from two in albeit low company has certainly not showed the best of him yet, and the manner in which he idled at Sandown suggested there’s plenty more to come on the track. He should enjoy the step up to one mile here and he can get the better of Wimbledon Hawkeye and Delacroix, who can complete the placings.
2024 Futurity Trophy Predicted 1-2-3
- Anno Domini
- Wimbledon Hawkeye
- Delacroix
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