Futurity Trophy tips and preview: Best bets at Doncaster for final flat Group 1
Yesterday at 08:50 AM
Doncaster hosts the Futurity Trophy Weekend featuring its namesake as the final Group 1 contest on the flat as some promising two-year-olds look to confirm their form.
Wimbledon Hawkeye leads the betting on Saturday ahead of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Delacroix in what should be a decent sized field.
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The Group 1 contest is over 1m for two-year-olds and often produces future stars, with the likes of Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg, Kemeko, Saxon Warrior and Camelot recent winners.
Not only does this race produce subsequent Group winners and top-class flat racers, but also horses that can go on to stud and go on to produce even more stars for the future.
Wimbledon Hawkeye, the favourite trained by James Owen, is a colt by Kameko who won this in 2019 and could follow in his father’s footsteps having already confirmed his group ability when winning the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket in September.
With two decent efforts in group company prior to that it was only a matter of time before finding a winning combination.
However, there’s value to be had in this race with other colts who could be even better than they’ve shown.
The likes of Detain who’s only been seen twice, along with Matauri Bay, and Anno Domini who is Godolphin’s only contender.
Doncaster Futurity racing tips
- 2.40: Matauri Bay 7/1 Each-way (1.5pts) & Anno Domini 10/1 Each-way (1pt)
Anno Domini won last time out at Sandown but that was back in July, though his form has only been boosted since, with those horses placing behind going on to win subsequently.
Windlord who placed second for instance, won by over five lengths at York before going a close third in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh, giving him a new rating of 105.
So the Charlie Appleby-trained grey colt could be the danger as he’s still very unexposed and still unbeaten.
Especially as this horse was carrying a 5lb penalty and looked to be going comfortably to win on both occasions.
Matauri Bay won on debut but instantly confirmed his form as a group level horse on his second outing when placing second to Field Of Gold, at Sandown in August.
Many of these horses are taking on 1m for the first time but are all almost guaranteed to like the trip based on going for this race, pedigree and other various factors like only stepping up from 7f.
Monumental is a huge price considering he’s one of a few Aidan O’Brien-trained contenders, and has placed twice in Group contests in his last two appaarances.
But despite his rating looks like he’ll really need to improve more on the step up to 1m.
Royal Playwright has placed behind Field Of Gold and Wimbledon Hawkeye now, giving him the second highest overall rating of the field.
At 16/1 currently, he should be a great each-way contender providing he can at least get close to the favourite again, while also beating other potential improvers to the places.
Delacroix is O’Brien’s top chance though and it’s no surprise either as he’s been seen over 1m three times already and won twice in his career, only ever beaten by Green Impact on his debut and in the Champions Juvenile Stakes.
It does seem he needs to improve though and with only a small margin success in Group 3 company earlier this month in the Autumn Stakes, more is likely needed.
Detain has won twice from two runs but both have been at Kempton in minor novice events over 7f.
Though his two wins have come in such a fashion that he’s well-fancied for this at just 6/1.
Tom Lunn’s Profit/Loss
- October ’24: +35.7
- From May ’24: +165.62pts
- From July ’23: +378.18pts
All odds correct at time of writing
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