The final Group 1 contest in the UK, historically the most informative juvenile event for next year’s Classic’s, was run over the weekend at Doncaster.
Auguste Rodin, ridden by Ryan Moore, impresses in the Gr1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster (Pic – Facebook – British Champion Series)
The Vertem Futurity, raced over the straight mile, was won by the Aidan O’Brien trained Auguste Rodin. Run on heavy ground the colt by Deep Impact was held up in rear behind two horses, stablemate Salt Lake City and market rival Epictetus, that elected to race on the stands side of the track whilst the remaining five runners kept to the middle, inside.
Last of 8 approaching the final two furlongs, with his stablemate Salt Lake City setting a good pace, he found plenty when Ryan Moore asked him to go and win his race. Ridden to lead over the last 2-furlongs, Auguste Rodin went clear over the final 110yds, winning readily by three and a half lengths from the staying on Epictetus in second.
Auguste Rodin earned a Timeform rating of 121p for his authoritative success which places him only behind stablemate Little Big Bear (126p) among this season’s juveniles. Little Big Bear, by No Nay Never, looks more like a Guineas horse so Ballydoyle look to have a major chance of securing both Classic’s next season.
Due to the heavy underfoot conditions and Aidan O’Brien’s pre-race comments that this well-balanced colt would prefer better ground, he eased in the market from 5/6 to a starting price of 9/4!
O’Brien stated post-race: “We came here with the intention of taking him out. We discussed it and the lads said if the ground is heavy, we won’t run. Ryan rode in the first ground and said it was soft, he didn’t think it was heavy. We walked the track and we felt it wasn’t heavy, we thought it was worth letting him take his chance.”
Explaining the bold tactical move of heading across to the stands rail, he added: “The ground was very cut up in the middle and had been raced on over the far side, this was the only bit that wasn’t raced on. We felt we weren’t going to see him at his best, but the experience was going to do him good.”
“It was brilliant it worked out; it doesn’t always work out. He really is a horse to be a little bit excited about next year.”
Bookmakers were getting more than a little excited about Auguste Rodin, who is now a best-priced 5-1 for the Guineas and 4-1 for the Derby.
“I’d say he’d have no problem starting off in the Guineas,” O’Brien said. “He has a lot of class.”
“He’ll love good ground at Newmarket, and you’d imagine he’ll get a mile and a quarter on his ear. Usually if horses are that good and that classy, they don’t have any problem getting a mile and a half. He looks to have all the right things.”
