Vertem Futurity Trophy Tips and Free Bets

Each year in October Doncaster racecourse plays host to the final domestic Group 1 of the year. Read on for the best odds and racing betting offers, as well as our tips for the highly coveted Vertem Futurity Trophy.

It got a new name in 2018 and we’re just about getting used to it now. However, whether you call it the Racing Post Trophy or the Vertem Futurity Trophy, it remains a brilliant race. This Group 1 contest open to two year old colts and fillies was first run at Doncaster in 1961 over a trip of one mile. Offering well over £200,000 in total prize money, it is one of the most prestigious juvenile contests of the year. The Flat season may be coming to an end and the Cheltenham Festival is starting to come into our thoughts but we aren’t quite there yet and this one should be a cracker!

Vertem Futurity Trophy Betting Tips 2019

The flat racing season is rapidly drawing to a close. There’s still time for some big races to come, one of which is the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes. This Group 1 is often a tough mile due to the soft conditions usually found at Doncaster at this time of year. That’s not stopped some of the very best two-year-olds in training landing the prize in recent years but will the much fancied Mogul live up to the billing?

Ballydoyle Have High Hopes for Mogul

Aidan O’Brien and the team at Ballydoyle have had some truly special horses over the years. They certainly know a highly promising two-year-old when they see one so the high regard in which they hold Mogul must be taken into account.

The bookies have definitely taken it into account when it comes to their prices for the Vertem Futurity Stakes. He is odds on across the board with the 1/2 that bet365 are quoting about his chances the best price you’ll find.

Although he doesn’t head to Doncaster with an unbeaten record like some previous winners, Mogul has already caught the eye over 1 mile. His most recent outing was a very strong win in the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown. That run came on good ground but the way he eased home despite taking the widest route of all seven runners suggests that there are no concerns about his stamina so he really could be a good thing even at odds on.

Can Kameko Upset the Ballydoyle Party?

The ground at Doncaster adds an interesting element to this year’s renewal of the Trophy Stakes but it has not done good things for the entries. Out of a possible 22 horses just six will compete with five of those trained by Aidan O’Brien.

Having so many horses in the race will allow O’Brien to set the pace and give Mogul the best chance of winning. Of course, race tactics often go out of the window once the horses are released from the stalls so the plucky Kameko should not be completely written off for Andrew Balding.

He will have to do it all on his own but his incoming form suggests that a place could be on the cards. After winning on his debut over 7 furlongs at Sandow, Kameko was just about touched off over the same course and distance before the same thing happened on his first attempt over 1 mile. The horses who narrowly beat him don’t look quite on Mogul’s level but a step forwards could make Kameko the best of the rest.

Betting Predictions

Mogul is a very worthy favourite for the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes. There’s a real buzz about this horse’s chances in the Classics next season and he should head into the winter break on the back of a win. In the unlikely event the favourite is beaten, Kameko may just be the one to capitalise so if you want something at longer odds take a risk on him at 11/2 with Ladbrokes.

Previous Winners

2018 – Magna Grecia – jockey Donnacha O’Brien, trainer Aidan O’Brien
2017 – Saxon Warrior – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O’Brien
2016 – Rivet – jockey Andrea Atzeni, trainer William Haggas
2015 – Marcel – jockey Andrea Atzeni, trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam
2014 – Elm Park – jockey Andrea Atzeni, trainer Andrew Balding
2013 – Kingston Hill – jockey Andrea Atzeni, trainer Roger Varian
2012 – Kingsbarns – jockey Joseph O’Brien, trainer Aidan O’Brien
2011 – Camelot – jockey Joseph O’Brien, trainer Aidan O’Brien
2010 – Casamento – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer Michael Halford
2009 – St Nicholas Abbey – jockey Johnny Murtagh, trainer Aidan O’Brien
2008 – Crowded House – jockey Jamie Spencer, trainer Brian Meehan
2007 – Ibn Khaldun – jockey Kerrin McEvoy, trainer Saeed bin Suroor
2006 – Authorized – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam

Race History

The brainchild of the man behind the highly regarded Timeform service, Phil Bull, this race was first run in 1961. It immediately became a respected testing ground for the most promising two year olds in training. Immediately granted Group 1 status with the advent of racing classifications in 1971, it has remained a top tier event ever since.

It didn’t take long for this contest to begin to produce future stars. One of the greatest ever Irish fillies, Noblesse, won the 1962 edition. Paddy Prendergast’s star wasn’t seen often at the track but did land both the Musidora Stakes and Oaks in 1963. St Leger winner Ribocco (1966), Arc hero, Vaguely Noble (1967); and 2000 Guineas champ, High Top (1971) were other high class early winners.

Sir Henry Cecil was the first man to train a winner of this race who subsequently went on to land the Epsom Derby when Reference Point completed the famous double in 1986-87. As of 2015 four other runners have repeated the trick, namely, High Chaparral, Motivator, Authorized and Camelot. Famous names one and all and an illustration of the quality of performer this race can throw up.

Godolphin’s Casamento wasn’t one of the winners of this to subsequently go on to great things – with just a sole Group 3 success to his name as a three year old. He was undoubtedly talented at two though. His time of 1m37.03s for the 2010 Racing Post Trophy remains the fastest ever in the race as of 2015.

Trainer and Jockey Records

In addition to Reference Point, Cecil won this race on a further nine occasions, making him the most successful trainer in the history of the race. Hot on his heels with seven victories between 1997 and 2012, then an eighth in 2017, and a ninth in 2018, is Irish trainer extraordinaire Aidan O’Brien.

We have a two-way tie in the jockeys ranks between two undisputed riding legends. Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery share the lead with five wins apiece. Andrea Atzeni is hot on their heels though having won four in a row from 2013-16, each for a different trainer.