18:00 Newcastle

Friday 1 November 2019

All15:4516:1516:5017:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 18:00 | Winning time: 1m 36.26s

(1)

Geometrical¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 103| D

33/1

Useful sort who won his maiden by 5½L (1m, soft) when defeating Mogul at Gowran Park in August. Struggled in Group races since finishing last of five in a Leopardstown Group 3 last time; looks vulnerable stepping on to the AW the first time.

Form: 021365

(4)

Innisfree³³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| D

11/1

Like many 2yo's from this yard beaten on his debut but improved markedly since then taking a Galway 7f maiden prior to winning at Group 2 level last time. Showed a good attitude last time; AW debut, one of five from his yard, bold bid expected.

Form: 211

(6)

Kameko³⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 108| BF

11/2

Yet to record another win after making a successful start to his career but two runner-up slots in Group 2/3 company show that he's a smart sort (only beaten narrowly each time). Sire has a good record here, may benefit from the switch to AW.

Form: 122

(5)

King Of The Throne¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: E Mullins

150/1

Shaped as though he would be better for the run when chasing home Mogul on his Curragh debut over 1m. Failed to handle testing conditions at Leopardstown last time; looks to be tilting at windmills coming here.

Form: 49

(8)

Kinross²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett

13/8

Could hardly have been more impressive on his debut when winning by 8L in a 7f Newmarket novice (second and fifth next time out winners). Faces a different scenario here (trip/surface/grade) but looks equipped to cope; exciting prospect.

Form: 1

(3)

Mogul⁴⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108| D

7/2

Main player from the quintet his stable run having looked highly progressive winning his last two starts after a debut defeat. Produced his best performance last time when taking a Leopardstown 1m Group 2; more to come although AW is an unknown.

Form: 211

(11)

New World Tapestry³⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: E J McNamara| T: A P O'Brien

20/1

Progressed on each of his three starts although he's not been tested beyond maiden level as yet. Pedigree would suggest that greater tests of stamina will suit in time; respected but looks fourth-best on the Ballydoyle batting order this time around.

Form: 341

(10)

Royal County Down^b⁴⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 92

50/1

One of three in this to have had six starts so won't lack for experience having already won a maiden and a Galway handicap over 7f. Given a chance in Group 2 company last time; beat just one home behind stablemate Mogul; likely to come up short again

Form: 421156

(2)

Tammani⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: B A Curtis| T: W J Haggas| OR: 108| D

20/1

Progressing nicely producing his best performance and second win when taking a Deauville Listed contest over 1m in testing conditions last week. That win boosted the form of his previous Group 3 run although that start exposed ability at this level.

Form: 81341

(12)

Verboten¹⁰⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

8/1

One of two from a stable with a good record here he overcame inexperience to make a winning Yarmouth debut (7f, good) in midsummer. Not seen since this is a sharp rise in class and he'll need to improve/be smart to get involved on his second start.

Form: 1

(7)

Year Of The Tiger²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108

16/1

Form at Group level reads 744 with all those runs coming at Newmarket (did second best of a quartet of stablemates behind the classy Pinatubo last time). Would need to improve to take a hand in this and that appears to be unlikely.

Form: 271744

Non-Runners

(9)

Cherokee Trail²⁰

Weight: 9-1| Age: 2

T: J & T Gosden J: K T O'Neill

Forecasts

Kinross (13/8), Mogul (7/2), Kameko (11/2), Verboten (8/1), Innisfree (11/1), Year Of The Tiger (16/1), New World Tapestry (20/1), Tammani (20/1), Cherokee Trail (25/1), Geometrical (33/1), Royal County Down (50/1), King Of The Throne (150/1)

An historic moment with the first Group 1 AW race, the field having a little more variety in it now than the cancelled Doncaster version. Aidan O’Brien has won this event nine times; he sends over a strong team in order to make it ten with Mogul very much the best of them although his sire (Galileo) doesn’t have an outstanding record on Tapeta at the track. Innisfree holds sound claims for the O’Brien yard but it’s the potentially special KINROSS who gets the vote to build on his devastating 8L debut win. Kameko may well benefit from the transfer of this race to Tapeta with his sire (Kitten’s Joy) claiming a 32% strike-rate at this venue. Tammani and Verboten two others that add some depth.