There are a total of six Group 1 juvenile events during the flat season – beginning with the Nunthorpe Stakes in August, continuing to the Cheveley Park Stakes and Middle Park Stakes in September, and moving on to the Dewhurst Stakes and Fillies’ Mile. Last but not least, we arrive at one of only two top-tier contests for the two-year-olds, which doesn’t take place at Newmarket, as Doncaster plays host to the prestigious Futurity Trophy.
Making its debut in 1961 and known as the Racing Post Trophy between 1989 and 2017, this is the only Group 1 juvenile colts event to take place over a mile and is viewed as one of the most influential contests for predicting success in a colt's Classic campaign.
To put that theory to the test, we have looked back at the past three editions of the great race. How many of those who lined up at Doncaster went on to success during their three-year-old season, and how many fell by the wayside?
2023
Ancient Wisdom
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 1st
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Sire: Dubawi
3YO Wins: 1
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Group 3
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£1.50
Arriving at Newmarket with four wins from five starts - including a Group 3 success at Newmarket - Ancient Wisdom started as the 5/4f on the day and rewarded supporters with an authoritative 1¾l success. Fast forward to 2024, and the colt failed to live up to his Classic potential – following a 6l loss to Economics in the Dante Stakes with a no-show in the Derby. However, all was not lost, and the mount of William Buick was back in the winner’s enclosure in July, having landed the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy over 1m5f.
Devil’s Point
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 2nd
Trainer: David Menuisier
Sire: New Bay
3YO Wins: 2
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Group 2
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: +£1.30
Having been turned over in Group 3 company on his two most recent starts, Devil’s Point was an unfancied 16/1 shot at Doncaster but ran a solid race to chase Ancient Wisdom home. Showing some encouragement when third in a Group 3 on his seasonal return, he built on that to land a Class 2 event at Goodwood before a career-best effort to claim the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas.
God’s Window
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 3rd
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Sire: Dubawi
3YO Wins: 1
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Class 5
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£5.93
By Dubawi and out of the Listed winning Perfect Clarity, God’s Window had just one winning start to his name ahead of the Futurity Trophy. As such, he ran a race full of promise to take third. A win at odds of 1/14 on his seasonal return told us little, and he has so far failed to score in pattern company – his best effort seeing him finish third to Kalpana in the Group 3 September Stakes.
Deira Mile
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 4th
Trainer: Owen Burrows
Sire: Camelot
3YO Wins: 1
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Class 5
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£2.56
Zero from three ahead of Doncaster, Deira Mile was sent off as the 50/1 rank outsider of the field. With that in mind, a staying on fourth was a sound effort on his first start for Owen Burrows. Like God’s Window, this Camelot colt was much too good for Class 5 company on his first start at three but not quite up to scoring at Listed level or above. That said, he finished fourth in the Epsom Derby and St. Leger and lost out by just a neck in the Listed August Stakes.
Dancing Gemini
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 5th
Trainer: Roger Teal
Sire: Camelot
3YO Wins: 0
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: None
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£5
At 9/2, Dancing Gemini was fancied to go well at Doncaster but faded close home in the heavy ground. An excellent second in the French 2000 Guineas was as good as it got at three, with four subsequent outings seeing him fail to land a blow.
Diego Velazquez
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 6th
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Sire: Frankel
3YO Wins: 2
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Group 2
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£1.36
Sired by Frankel, trained by Aidan O’Brien, and fetching the small matter of 2.4m Guineas at the sales, much was expected of Diego Velazquez. Bringing a two-from-two record to Doncaster, he started as the 9/4 second favourite but struggled on the ground to beat only one home. Moving on to his Classic campaign, he showed promise when fourth in the French 2000 and wasn’t beaten far in the Prix du Jockey Club, but bombed out as favourite in the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot. However, he belatedly began to deliver on his potential when bagging back-to-back Group 3 and Group 2 events at Leopardstown.
Redhot Whisper
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 7th
Trainer: Ben Brookhouse
Sire: Too Darn Hot
3YO Wins: 0
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: None
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£5
Winless before Doncaster and last on the day, Redhot Whisper remains a maiden after eight career starts – including three outings down in Class 5 company.
2022
Auguste Rodin
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 1st
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Sire: Deep Impact
3YO Wins: 4
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Group 1
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: +£8.11
Arriving at Doncaster seeking a hattrick, the wonderfully-bred Auguste Rodin duly delivered with a strong staying effort to score by an easy 3½l. At three, he was beaten 22l in the 2000 Guineas and 127l in the King George but was otherwise exceptional – bagging four Group 1s in the shape of the Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes, and Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Epictetus
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 2nd
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Sire: Kingman
3YO Wins: 2
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Group 3
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: +£0.40
Second favourite and second best on the day, Epictetus remained a notch below Group 1 company at three – finishing fifth and eighth in his two outings at the top table. However, he found Listed/Group 3 company more to his liking with wins in the Blue Riband Trial and Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.
Holloway Boy
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 3rd
Trainer: Karl Burke
Sire: Ulysses
3YO Wins: 0
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: None
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£2
Kicking off his career with a 40/1 shock win in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, Holloway Boy ended the season with form figures of 12233 in pattern company. Unfortunately, he ran only twice in an injury-affected three-year-old season, with his best effort seeing him finish fourth in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes.
Dancing Magic
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 4th
Trainer: Roger Teal
Sire: Camelot
3YO Wins: 0
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: None
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£6
Pitched into Group 1 company following solid efforts at Listed and Group 3 level, Dancing Magic trailed home 9l adrift of the winner. Failing to progress at three, he has now been gelded and undergone wind surgery but is without a win in 17 starts at the time of writing.
Salt Lake City
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 5th
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Sire: Galileo
3YO Wins: 1
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Listed
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: Break Even
Earning his Doncaster ticket with a 5l romp in a Navan Maiden, this Galileo colt looked out of his depth on the day – doing little more than make the running for his stablemate. Hit and miss at three, he started well with a Listed second at Leopardstown but only returned to form with a success in the Listed Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes in August.
Captain Wierzba
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 6th
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Sire: Night Of Thunder
3YO Wins: 0
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: None
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£2
Arriving at the Futurity with only a Class 4 success to his name, Captain Wierzba was no match for the principles. Last of nine in a Listed event on his first start at three, he didn’t fare much better when dropped into Class 2 company next time.
King Of Steel
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 7th
Trainer: David Loughnane
Sire: Wootton Bassett
3YO Wins: 2
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Group 1
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: +£0.10
An impressive winner on debut at Nottingham, the giant King Of Steel failed to cope with the bottomless conditions at Doncaster. Connections were adamant that the colt would be seen to better effect on quicker ground and how right they turned out to be. During a magnificent three-year-old season, King Of Steel finished second at 66/1 in the Derby, third in the King George, won the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, and capped it all off by handing Frankie Dettori his last Ascot winner in the Champion Stakes.
Stormbuster
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 8th
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Sire: Dubawi
3YO Wins: 0
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: None
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£6
At 7/1, and following an eye-catching success at Newbury, many expected Stormbuster to go well in his first Group 1 assignment. Instead, he finished last and has continued to underwhelm ever since. Kicking off his three-year-old season with a last-of-five effort at Epsom and ending with a 40l last at Ascot - it’s fair to say he hasn't lived up to expectations.
2021
Luxembourg
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 1st
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Sire: Camelot
3YO Wins: 2
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Group 1
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: +£1.72
Highly touted from the off, Luxembourg scored in Maiden and Group 2 company before a comfortable 1¾l victory in this event. Returning with a solid third in the 2000 Guineas, he missed the 1m4f Classics through injury but recovered to land the Group 2 Royal Whip Stakes and Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes.
Sissoko
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 2nd
Trainer: Donnacha O’Brien
Sire: Australia
3YO Wins: 0
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: none
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: Break Even
Not too much to say about the runner-up. Building on a promising 6l Maiden win with a solid second in this race, Sissoko was shipped off to Hong Kong and renamed Packing Sissoko – only to suffer a career-ending injury before hitting the track.
Bayside Boy
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 3rd
Trainer: Roger Varian
Sire: New Bay
3YO Wins: 2
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Group 1
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: +£30.67
Having upset the odds-on favourite in the Champagne Stakes and finished third in the Dewhurst, Bayside Boy arrived in solid form and ran well in third. Things were a little slower at three, with defeats in his first three starts. However, those who kept the faith were rewarded with wins in his final two starts – including a 33/1 shocker in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day.
Hannibal Barca
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 4th
Trainer: Brian Meehan
Sire: Zoffany
3YO Wins: 1
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Group 3
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£0.25
Performing above expectations to be beaten only 2l at odds of 25/1, Hannibal Barca wasted no time at three – winning the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh on the first start of the season. That was to prove a career-high, with his next two outings seeing him well beaten in the Irish Derby and the Listed Dubai Diamond Stakes.
Imperial Fighter
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 5th
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Sire: The Gurkha
3YO Wins: 0
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: None
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£3
Having finished runner-up in Group 2 and Group 3 company, Imperial Fighter needed to improve to figure in his first Group 1 outing but ran largely to the same level to finish a 2½l fifth. Returning with third-placed efforts in the Listed Burradon Stakes and Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas, the wheels then appeared to come off. Fast forward to October 2024, and his losing record now sits at 17 – the most recent of those defeats coming when sent off at 80/1 in a Class 4 handicap.
McTigue
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 6th
Trainer: Jim Bolger
Sire: Fracas
3YO Wins: 2
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Grade 2
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: +£0.62
Not really catching the eye on pedigree and having only scraped home in his maiden, McTigue looked underpriced at 33/1 and ran accordingly. What followed was the most unusual career path of our Futurity contenders. Failing to win in six starts on the level at three, the colt switched to the yard of Emmett Mullins to be repurposed as a hurdler. That proved a successful venture, with McTigue landing a Maiden at Sedgefield and bagging the Grade 2 Prix Georges de Talhouet-Roy at Auteuil.
Bullet Force
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 7th
Trainer: Karl Burke
Sire: Cable Bay
3YO Wins: 1
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: Class 4
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£1
Having been turned over in a Class 2 handicap on his previous start, Bullet Force looked a dubious inclusion in the Futurity Field, but the 100/1 shot at least managed to finish in front of one of his rivals. Set more realistic assignments thereafter, he won one of five starts at three when getting up late to score in handicap company at Pontefract.
Royal Patronage
Futurity Trophy Finishing Position: 8th
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Sire: Wootton Bassett
3YO Wins: 0
Highest Grade of 3YO Wins: None
3YO Profit/Loss to £1 Level Stakes: -£6
Heading into the 2021 edition as a dual Group winner, this Mark Johnston contender was a major disappointment. However, having been struck into early in the race, the colt had a legitimate excuse on the day and connections retained hope headed into his Classic campaign. Eighth in the 2000 Guineas, second in the Dante Stakes, and fifth in the Belmont Derby, he ran well without winning before heading down under for a new career in Australia. Retaining his form as a five-year-old, he grabbed the Grade 2 Tramway Stakes in 2024.
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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