The unbeaten Aidan O’Brien-trained Diego Velazques heads eleven entries for the £200,000 Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster this Saturday, the final Group One of the British Flat racing season.
Aidan O’Brien is the leading trainer of the Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes having tasted success on eleven occasions. He will be looking for a third consecutive win in the race following Luxembourg’s success in 2021 and this year’s Derby, Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes Winner, Auguste Rodin, impressive victory last season. Diego Valazquez, who was bought for 2,400,000 guineas as yearling, has won both of his two starts and was last seen winning the Group Two Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown at the beginning of September. The son of Frankel is one of five entries for Aidan O’Brien. Battle Cry, Capulet, Chief Little Rock and Henry Adams could also line up as he seeks a twelfth win in the race.
The Charlie Appleby trained, Ancient Wisdom, has been supplemented for the race for a fee of £17,500. The impressive Group Three Autumn Stakes winner has won three of his four career starts, with his sole defeat coming at the hands of Richard Hannon’s subsequent Prix Jean- Luc Lagadere winner Rosallion in an Ascot Listed race in July.
Dancing Gemini was hugely impressive in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting for trainer Roger Teal and the son of Camelot looks set to return to Doncaster on Saturday. John and Thady Gosden could be represented by God’s Window who won his only career start at the track in September.
Redhot Whisper, trained by Ben Brookhouse, finished second behind God’s Window at Doncaster last time out on only his second start and the pair could clash again. Deira Mile could have his first start for new connections having joined Owen Burrows’ yard from Charlie Johnston. The David Menuisier trained Devil’s Point is also set to line-up having finished fourth on his last start in the Group Three Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint Cloud.
Trainer quotes:
Aidan O’Brien – Battle Cry, Capulet, Chief Little Rock, Diego Valazquez and Henry Adams:
“Diego Velazquez looks the main one for the Futurity Trophy on Saturday. We are very happy with him since his last run and James Doyle has been booked for him. We will probably run one other horse in the race and we are looking forward to Saturdays race.”
Ben Brookhouse – Redhot Whisper:
“He came out of the race at Doncaster in good order, he seems to take to his racing really well. We aimed him at this race after running very well in his maiden, which was a very expensive maiden and he was beaten by a very smart horse. He was finishing off nicely that day and was giving away three pounds to the eventual winner. His preparation has gone very pleasingly, very straightforward to this point. We think he will see out the trip and will love the ground. We think he is still progressing.”
Charlie Appleby – Ancient Wisdom:
“He won the Emirates Autumn Stakes in good style. He appreciated the ground and step-up in trip. He has come out of the race very well and had an easy bit of work at Newmarket on Saturday where he showed his wellness. He has come out of that piece of work in good shape so we were keen to supplement this morning. The ground is looking like it will be soft at Doncaster and I feel like he is going to be a very strong contender. He has obviously done well for the break that he had after Ascot, physically he has done very well from then until now.”
David Menusier – Devil’s Point:
“He came out of the race at Saint-Cloud really well, the form of the race was franked in France yesterday in the Group One Criterium International. The ground was potentially not quite soft enough for us last time, so I would expect him to improve a few lengths on what he did in the Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie and he was an unlucky loser in the Solario Stakes at Sandown before that. The horse is top notch and with the softer ground this weekend hopefully he can run a really good race.”
Roger Teal – Dancing Gemini:
“We are very happy with him, he came out of the Flying Scotsman Stakes very well. He beat what was in front of him that day and he beat them in style, it was faster than the Group 2 the next day. It was a good performance, he did it very convincingly.
It was pretty soft the day he won at Doncaster. He has coped with the soft, I think it is going to be on the heavy side come Saturday. It is not ideal for any horse, I don’t think any trainer would choose the conditions if they could. The way he travels, he is quite light on his feet so hopefully he doesn’t get bogged down too much.”
Tickets are available for the Group 1 Kameko Futurity Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday 28 October. Please visit www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk for more information.
