Kameko Futurity Trophy report and replay: Ancient Wisdom battles to victory
The son of Dubawi was supplemented into the Doncaster Group One following his win in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket and justified the decision with a gutsy display.
Always in the front-rank he was under pressure from the two furlong marker as the pack closed in.
However, the 5/4 favourite found plenty and despite hanging slightly to his left asserted in the closing stages to beat Devil's Point (16/1) by a length-and-three-quarters. God's Window finished best of all in third.
Diego Velazquez tracked the winner for much of the contest but weakened into sixth in the closing stages
The race was delayed by a frightening incident in the stalls when Diego Velazquez's stablemate Battle Cry reared over. Thankfully he was able to walk away after treatment on the course.
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Betfair and Paddy Power halved Ancient Wisdom in price to 6/1 for the 2024 Betfred Derby. Sky Bet are the same price and left him unchanged at 12/1 for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.
Futurity first for Buick
Buick, winning the race for the first time, said: “I’ve had a few goes at this and never been able to win it, so I’m delighted to win it this year. I was delighted it was on, the talk of it being abandoned earlier in the week wasn’t great, but they’ve done a great job. The ground is very soft, but we’re racing on it and this is a very important race for next year.
“I was delighted with Ancient Wisdom. He put in a big performance only two weeks ago at Newmarket and Charlie and the team were very happy to supplement him for today. The plan wasn’t necessarily to make the running, but it fell right, he pricked his ears and he’s just a horse who is very uncomplicated. That goes a long way in this ground.
“You go through the list of two-year-olds that have won this race and it bodes well for next year. I’m very much looking forward to him and delighted with what he did there.”
Wisdom fuels winter dreams for Appleby team
Alex Merriam, Appleby’s assistant, said: “Charlie purposely gave him a break through the summer to come back for the Autumn Stakes. He was very pleased with the way he came out of that and he showed he handled the soft ground so I think Charlie just thought why not give him a shot?
“I think we were probably expecting to follow the Aidan O’Brien horse (Battle Cry), so it was slightly Plan B to make the running, but Will gave him a great ride. They got racing a long way out, but Will didn’t panic, he said it took him a while to get through the gears but once he got rolling he saw it out well. It’s nice to have a horse to look forward to for next year.”
On Ancient Wisdom being the team’s first Group One winner in Britain since Modern Games landed the Lockinge at Newbury in May, Merriam added: “It’s been a bit bleak, but it’s nice to see we’ve got some nice two-year-olds for next season. We can go into the winter dreaming anyway.”
Looking towards next season Merriam said: “It was obviously very soft ground out there and he lengthened rather than quickened. It’s a long old winter so we’ll see where we are. It looks like there’ll be quite a good one to beat in the Guineas (City Of Troy)! We’ll leave that to Charlie and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed to decide.”
O'Brien reflects on early drama
O’Brien said: “There was a few incidents, wasn’t there? When horses get upset like that in the stalls, their heart can go through the roof and usually it goes out the window then. He (Diego Velazquez) got upset after what happened to the other fellow. When that happens, their heart rate can go through the roof and they can only do that once. That’s the way it is. Take nothing away from the winner.”
David Menuisier said of Devil’s Point: “I’m delighted. He came to win the race and then he kind of flattened out and maybe stayed on a bit, but it’s a Group One and to finish second in a Group One is absolutely marvellous. He was travelling absolutely great on the ground. We’ll speak to Oisin (Murphy) and see what he thinks, but he’s pretty special really.”
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