Doncaster hosted the William Hill Futurity Trophy last Saturday, the final Group 1 of the British Flat season.
Eight juvenile colts jumped away from the mile start, but the final two-furlongs were dominated by the two Irish raiders.
The Too Darn Hot colt Hotazhell (11/1) edged out Delacroix to win a thrilling renewal.
Sent off a well backed 15/8 favourite, the Ryan Moore ridden Delacroix lugged to his right onto his rival over the final 100 yards, but Shane Foley and Hotazhell refused to be intimidated and fought back to get up on the post.
Shane Foley drives Hotazhell to victory ahead of Delacroix (Ryan Mo0ore) in a thriller (Pic – Supplied)
There were a further four-and-three-quarter lengths back to Wimbledon Hawkeye (3/1) in third.
Bookmakers cut the Jessica Harrington-trained winner to 25/1 from 33/1 for next year’s Betfred 2000 Guineas.
The winning rider told ITV Racing: “He’s a very good, tough horse. We all thought he wanted a bit of slow ground, but this was probably a bit too slow for him.”
Harrington added: “He’s a smashing horse. He’s very tough and loves a battle. He’s a little bit feisty, he isn’t called Hotazhell for nothing.”
As to next year she said: “We’ll start off over a mile and see how he develops over the winter. I think he’ll probably get a mile-and-a-quarter, I’m not sure he’ll get a mile-and-a-half, but you never know.”
The form of the Futurity was boosted the following day in France where the Joseph O’Brien trained Tennessee Stud, runner-up to Hotazhell in the Beresford Stakes, prevailed in the Gr1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
A well-backed favourite, the Wootton Bassett colt caught the long-time leader Green Storm over the final 100 yards of the ten-furlong Group 1. Interestingly, he carried the silks that were successful last year by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Los Angeles.
Joseph O’Brien noted: “He’s very big and I expect him to be better as a three-year-old. He’ll have a break and will be trained now with the Derby at Epsom being his target.”
Later on the card Twain, another son of Wootton Bassett, was an even more taking winner of the Gr1 Criterium International.
The Ballydoyle trained colt won the mile feature by one and a quarter lengths from his stable companion Mount Kilimanjaro, quickening up nicely from the rear of the six strong field to win going away.
Considering this was just his second start after winning his Leopardstown maiden eight days ago, and having had to travel over from Ireland, this was some performance.
The victory shook up the market for next season’s 2,000 Guineas with some firms making him an 8/1 chance.
On pitching Twain straight into Group 1 company, Aidan O’Brien said: “He’s always been highly rated, and we ran him last week just in case what happened did happen, as we knew we had to give him a chance and there was only one Group 1 left. He’s quick and is obviously a Guineas horse so we’ll wrap him up for the winter now.”
