Conditioner Aidan O’Brien will saddle five of the six entries in Saturday’s $256,000 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. (Eng-G1) at Doncaster. With nine wins in the race that was also previously known as the Racing Post Trophy under his belt, the Ballydoyle wizard looks to have a big chance to make it an even 10 while holding all the cards but one in the field.
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The “European Road to the Kentucky Derby” event will also offer points to the top-four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 basis.
Mogul is the one to beat in the one-mile turf test coming off a strong victory in the Champions Juvenile S. (Ire-G2) at Leopardstown. The colt made headlines in 2018 when attracting a final bid of $4,674,201 (3,400,000 guineas) at Tattersalls October, and he has shown why he commanded such a hefty bid with a pair of facile wins in succession leading up to his Group 1 debut.
The top prospect is from a sensational family and counts peaking dual Group 1 star Japan as his full-brother. Mogul has flashed pace this season and he figures to always be in striking range on Saturday with Donnacha O’Brien inheriting the mount.
Kameko was on the wrong side of a thrilling stretch duel in the Royal Lodge S. (Eng-G2) last time out for handler Andrew Balding. The son of Kitten’s Joy fell a neck short to the well-meant Royal Dornoch at Newmarket, but he did earn four points towards the 2020 Kentucky Derby for his efforts. Regular rider Oisin Murphy will guide the dangerous contender on Saturday.
O’Brien’s Innisfree captured the Beresford S. (Ire-G2) at The Curragh last month to earn 10 points towards the 2020 Kentucky Derby, and he looks like a rising star with a very bright future. The Galileo colt has gotten the better of fine prospect Shekhem in two straight, but he might face a more difficult task with the aforementioned duo in this spot. February foal is a pacey sort who will be under the guidance of Jamie Hefferman.
Iberia has earned placings in two consecutive Group races in advance of the Futurity and could surely pick up another with a lifetime best in his Doncaster bow. Also by Galileo, the Irish-bred bay will be rallying from off of the early leaders beneath Andrea Atzeni.
Louisiana, a full-brother to champion The Gurkha, earned his first tally in going-away fashion at Thurles last time out and faces a big class jump in this endeavor. Royal Country Down defeated just one in the Juvenile S. (Ire-G2) at Leopardstown most recently. The son of Gleneagles would be a big surprise against this cast as the longshot in the field.
