Doncaster Saturday

Vertem Futurity Trophy (Group 1)

LUXEMBOURG cemented his position at the head of the ante-post lists for next year’s classics with a comfortable victory in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. Trainer Aidan O’Brien has now saddled 10 winners of the prestigious juvenile event, equalling the record previously held outright by Sir Henry Cecil, while this was a second victory for big-race rider Ryan Moore.

Luxembourg – backed into 4/6 at the off – lengthened impressively off fairly modest fractions to go clear over a furlong out, and while he failed to pull right away as might have been expected, he seemed to have something in reserve as he held off the challenges of Sissoko (Donnacha O’Brien/Wayne Lordan) and Bayside Boy (Roger Varian/David Egan) by a length and three quarters and a short-head.

Professional

This wasn’t the devastating performance which Luxembourg’s Beresford Stakes win promised, but he is not yet as mature and/or professional as a couple of the other leading juveniles, and his physical scope as much as his form makes him an exciting prospect.

He’s reminiscent of his sire Camelot, and achieved a very similar rating in winning this race as Camelot did a decade ago. They both display the same vaunted head-carriage which tends to be unfairly criticised, and if Luxembourg trains on as well as his sire or grandsire (Montjeu could only win a listed contest as a two-year-old), connections will be delighted.

It’s worth recalling that Camelot was only denied the Triple Crown in 2012 by a horse in Encke later found to have been doped in British Racing’s biggest recent scandal.

O’Brien’s previous Futurity winners include another Derby winner in High Chaparral, a St Leger hero in Brian Boru and two subsequent 2000 Guineas winners in Saxon Warrior and Magna Grecia.

Derby

Time will tell where Luxembourg sits in that pantheon, but he is certainly winning the right race, and the Derby looks the likeliest race for him next year, for all a tilt at the 2000 Guineas will surely be seriously considered.

Paddy Power cut his odds for next year’s Derby to 4/1, while he is a 6/1 chance for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Sissoko, for his part ran a fine race on the back of a maiden win, while Champagne Stakes winner and Dewhurst third Bayside Boy once again ran his race, and gives added solidity to the result, were any needed.

After the race, winning rider Ryan Moore said: “I’m delighted with him. He’s a really smart horse, very scopey. He travelled easy. I lost my cover at halfway and I had to keep going. He took me to the front. When I asked him the question, he just waited a bit. I grabbed hold of him the last 100 yards and he found a bit more.

“That’s three races and three wins. We’re delighted with what he’s done and he’s an exciting horse to look forward. It couldn’t have gone smoother and there’s more improvement to come.”