Doncaster top tips: Diego Velasquez can shine in Futurity Stakes

14:10 Doncaster 1m Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)

No luck last Saturday in our trends race with the draw bias being firmly with low numbers and this week I am looking at one of the top two year old races.

The Futurity Stakes has been run since 1961 when it was sponsored by Timeform under the eagle eye of its founder Phil Bull.

The race has produced multiple classic winners over the years including High Chaparral, Motivator, Authorized, Camelot and, most-recently, Auguste Rodin.

It remains to be seen if the 2000 Guineas or Derby winner of 2024 emerges from this race. There is a small field with only eight scheduled to go to post, but hopefully I can find the winner to sign off for the Flat season.

I've also done the first jumps trends analysis for Cheltenham on Saturday, and you can find a link to that at the bottom of the page.

19/21 – Had won either 1 or 2 races before
18/21 – Winning distance – 1 ¼ lengths or more
18/21 – Placed favourites
17/21 - Foaled in February or later
17/21 – Finished in the top two last time out
16/21 – Raced within the last 4 weeks
15/21 – Had raced at least twice previously
14/21 – Winning favourites
13/21 – Foaled in either Feb or March
13/21 – Ran at either the Curragh or Newmarket last time out
13/21 – Won their last race
12/21 – Had won over a mile in the past
10/21 – Won by an Irish-based yard
8/21 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (11 wins in total)
4/21 – Ridden by Andrea Atzeni (won 4 of the last 10)
Aidan O’Brien has won the race 11 times – 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2021 & 2022

Dancing Gemini is rated second on official ratings behind the Godolphin favourite Ancient Wisdom, but both have had more runs than ideal as that makes them more exposed than most in the field.

Dancing Gemini won a Listed race here last time over a shorter trip. He is bred to stay further and his in form trainer Roger Teal holds him in very high regard.

Diego Velasquez comes from the Aiden O’Brien Ballydoyle stable, which has won this race eleven times.

Diego Velasquez has only run twice and won a strong Group 2 at Leopardstown last time despite running green. His trainer believes he will come on a lot for that run and comes here with a very strong chance.

Suggested bet: Diego Velasquez to win Futurity Stakes

God’s Window has only had the one race to date winning over course and distance and must be highly thought of by the Gosden’s to be pitched in here after only one run.

The race he won was only a maiden, but he must be showing something at home to run in a Group 1 on his second start. He won that race comfortably and I will be interested to see how he performs here with next season in mind.

The favourite Ancient Wisdom has a very strong chance here, but on trends I have gone for the O’Brien horse Diego Velasquez to increase the stables tally to twelve winners of this race.

I suggest we have a win bet on Diego Velasquez. 

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