Loughnane talks up impressive Nottingham winner before Group 1 test

Connections of King Of Steel hope his "exceptional" mind and attitude can help him serve it up to red-hot favourite Auguste Rodin in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster (3.35) on Saturday.

The son of Wootton Bassett was an impressive winner at Nottingham this month under Adam Kirby and makes a quick return, with only ten days between this race and his debut success.

King Of Steel will bid to give trainer Dave Loughnane and owners Amo Racing, which is headed by football agent Kia Joorabchian, their first top-level triumphs and faces seven rivals in the mile contest.

Loughnane said: "It's a big step up from maiden company into a Group 1. We thought we'd take a chance and see how he goes and if he can progress from his first run.

"It's hard to know what we beat at Nottingham with none of them having a mark yet, but he was very impressive and fingers crossed he can progress and run a nice race.

"He showed during that debut that he has an exceptional mind and attitude. He's very light on his feet for a big horse and he did everything we expected him to do and more, so fingers crossed he can do that on Saturday."

Ante-post Derby favourite Auguste Rodin – an impressive winner of a Group 2 on Irish Champions Weekend – heads the opposition, while his trainer Aidan O'Brien also saddles Salt Lake City, an easy winner at Navan this month.

Auguste Rodin (left): an impressive winner at Leopardstown last timeCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

O'Brien won the race last year with Irish Champion Stakes hero Luxembourg, which brought him level with Sir Henry Cecil as the joint-most successful trainer in the race's history with ten wins.

John and Thady Gosden will be represented by second favourite Epictetus, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori and finished second in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket last time.

However, the Gosdens will not saddle fellow leading contender Arrest, who heads to France instead for the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

Shock Chesham Stakes hero Holloway Boy, who finished third in the Autumn Stakes last time, takes his place, while Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes winners Stormbuster lines up for Andrew Balding and owner Jeff Smith.

Vertem Futurity Trophy runners and riders

Auguste RodinRyan Moore
Captain WierzbaRob Hornby
Dancing MagicJim Crowley
EpictetusFrankie Dettori
Holloway BoyDanny Tudhope
King Of SteelAdam Kirby
Salt Lake CityWayne Lordan
StormbusterDavid Probert

Pedigree punting: Vertem Futurity Trophy verdict and 1-2 prediction

1 Auguste Rodin
2 Epictetus

Auguste Rodin hails from the outstanding Deep Impact's final crop and he steps up to Group 1 company after a gritty win in the Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown last time.

He is the first foal out of the top-class Rhododendron, the winner of the Lockinge Stakes, Prix de l'Opera and Fillies' Mile during her own time with Aidan O'Brien, while she was also notably second to the great Enable in the Oaks. Her son looks a middle-distance prospect in the making for 2023 and must be respected in a race his trainer has won three times in the last five years.
Kitty Trice, Racing Post bloodstock reporter

This content was first published in Kitty Trice's Pedigree Punting column in Wednesday's Racing Post Weekender. Read more from Kitty and star Weekender contributors such as leading tipsters Tom Segal and Paul Kealy and exclusive columnist Ed Walker every week.

Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (3.35 Doncaster, Saturday)

bet365: 5-6 Auguste Rodin, 7-2 Epictetus, 7 Stormbuster, Holloway Boy, 16 Salt Lake City, 20 King Of Steel, 33 Dancing Magic, 50 Captain Wierzba

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