THE Vertem Futurity Trophy has evolved. It used to be that the winner was automatically considered a middle-distance prospect for the following season. Noblesse won the second renewal of the race for Paddy Prendergast in 1962, and she went on to win the Musidora Stakes and the Oaks the following year.

Ribocco won it four years later, and he won the Irish Derby and the St Leger as a three-year-old. Vaguely Noble won it the following year, and he beat Sir Ivor in the Arc the year after that.