Race of the Day on Sky Sports activities Racing: Aidan O’Brien aiming for eleventh Vertem Futurity triumph at Doncaster | Racing Information

Sky Sports activities Racing presenter Mike Cattermole is again along with his lowdown on the large race on Saturday, the Group One Vertem Futurity Stakes at Doncaster.

The Vertem Futurity Trophy (3:35) is the final Group One of many British Flat season and prior to now few years it has developed right into a little bit of a profit for Aidan O’Brien.

He has received it 3 times within the final 5 runnings and 10 in all to equal the late Sir Henry Cecil. Auguste Rodin arrives with a giant status to set a brand new file, though stablemate Salt Lake Metropolis shouldn’t be dismissed calmly, both.

Tactically, Salt Lake Metropolis is a candidate for front-running duties, as is Stormbuster and Dancing Magic with Captain Wierzba helpful.

Circumstances

Like many locations, it has been moist in South Yorkshire this week and the bottom is smooth, heavy in locations after 23mm of rain on Thursday and extra showers into Friday morning.

There are prospects of additional showers throughout racing on Friday, however Saturday is forecast to be dry.

Contenders

Auguste Rodin

The son of Deep Affect and Rhododendron comes right here with a heap of steady confidence following a convincing win within the Group 2 Champion Juvenile Stakes over a mile on smooth floor at Leopardstown, when he discovered loads within the closing levels and hit the road strongly.

It was definitely a step in the fitting course, having received his maiden at Naas over seven furlongs. The one detrimental in regards to the Leopardstown win, maybe, is that the closest pursuer that day, the filly Caroline Road, disenchanted on her subsequent begin towards her personal intercourse within the Weld Park Stakes two weeks later.

Being talked about by his coach as the kind to have each the pace for a Guineas and stamina for a Derby. A worthy, if short-priced, favorite and the one to beat.

Captain Wierzba

Was contesting a Group 3 on very smooth floor at Saint-Cloud when his jockey Rossa Ryan was infamously barged off by Christophe Soumillon within the early levels of the competition.

So, we do not know the way a lot he may need improved from his all-the-way Ffos Las (good) maiden win over 7f. The type of that race is simply peculiar, nevertheless, and he must discover a ton of enchancment to land a blow right here. Could properly race prominently.

Dancing Magic

A gifted maiden who has proven enchancment in his 4 begins up to now and tried to make the operating when fourth behind Silver Knott, Epictetus and Holloway Boy within the Group 3 Autumn Stakes over a mile at Newmarket.

Clearly has to search out one thing on this softer floor – the primary time he has tackled it – to reverse that kind however must win races.

Epictetus

Received his maiden on debut at Newmarket in July (good to agency) and was then absent for 3 months till happening by a neck to the extra skilled Silver Knott (gave 3lb) within the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket over this journey on good floor.

That’s already good kind and he needs to be anticipated to construct on that and ensure the placings with each Holloway Boy and Dancing Magic. This would be the first time that he has raced on smooth, however his sire and dam have been effective on it, as certainly is his elder half-sister, Jumbly.

Apparently, the Gosden identify is but to function on the position of honour for this contest.

Holloway Boy

Grew to become the primary debutant to win at Royal Ascot for 26 years when stunning within the Chesham Stakes at odds of 40-1. Has been overwhelmed on all three of his begins since however nonetheless carried out properly within the Classic, Tattersalls (stated to have wanted it after lacking work when behind Nostrum) and Autumn Stakes.

The run at Newmarket final time was the primary time he had tried a mile – which must have suited – and he couldn’t safe a transparent run within the closing levels. He has just below two lengths to search out with Epictetus on this debut on a smooth floor, which on pedigree could swimsuit him.

He’s additionally fitted with cheekpieces for the primary time. Clearly wants to search out some enchancment however not utterly dominated out.

King Of Metal

Big son of Wootton Bassett who confirmed he dealt with smooth situations properly at Nottingham final week with a simple debut win over the prolonged mile.

He did properly from a large draw however his time was virtually two seconds slower than the opposite division of the maiden. Clearly this can be a huge step up in school and we are going to discover out much more now about how large his engine is inside that large 17-hand body.

Salt Lake Metropolis

Following an encouraging debut behind subsequent Nationwide Stakes winner Al Riffa on the Curragh, he was a bitter disappointment at York within the Convivial Maiden when he checked out shortly from a great place within the closing levels.

Maybe the bottom was too vigorous? No matter, he seemed in significantly better form when forcing the problem from the entrance and romping house by 5 lengths, ridden out, at Navan on smooth floor.

The truth that he’s right here in any respect must be a constructive signal, as I perceive he’s lining up on his personal deserves.

Stormbuster

From the yard that received this with Elm Park and Kameko, this full brother to Arabian Queen seemed helpful from the entrance at Newbury final time when he thrashed three rivals in fashion to lose his maiden tag on the fourth time of asking.

The Newbury kind isn’t adequate because it stands (runner-up has been overwhelmed since) and he wants to search out extra on this deeper floor (handles good to smooth, but to race on smooth).

Verdict

Donnacha O’Brien was trustworthy sufficient to inform Sky Sports activities Racing he was operating his good colt Proud And Regal in France on Saturday to keep away from clashing along with his father’s extremely regarded Auguste Rodin.

Clearly Ryan Moore’s mount is the one to beat right here, having seemed the half at Leopardstown, and the situations maintain no concern for him. He’s priced accordingly.

Stablemate Salt Lake Metropolis, whose kind in maidens may be very stable, could provide some worth on this testing floor. It’d even be an O’Brien 1-2. Epictetus wants to tug out extra however goes the fitting manner and is entitled to search out it. Certainly the Gosden identify will probably be on the winner’s trophy someday?

His worth is just a bit quick now of guaranteeing you a refund if he’s positioned. Only a be aware about Holloway Boy as the bottom might swimsuit him and he now has headgear to assist him. I really feel we’ve not seen the most effective of him but.