'He's a proper stakes horse' - impressive Detain cut for Group 1 after seven-length rout

Detain was cut to 8-1 (from 14) for the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster at the end of the month after successfully shouldering a penalty with an impressive seven-length victory in the second division of the 7f novice.

The runner-up, fourth, fifth and tenth from John and Thady Gosden's juvenile's win at Kempton in August have all won since and the son of Wootton Bassett delivered on that debut promise to follow up over the same course and distance.

Sent off at 4-11, Detain broke from stall six and made virtually all under Kieran Shoemark to score from the Charlie Hills-trained Fosroc.

"There was never much pace on paper and a lot of newcomers, so I wanted to just give him a little bit of a stretch, try to get a feel of him and he put the race to bed nicely," Shoemark told Racing TV. "It felt like a piece of work. He's a talented animal."

Friendly Soul wins the Prix de l'Opera under Kieran Shoemark at LongchampCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Shoemark rode his first Group 1 winner for the Gosdens on Friendly Soul in Sunday's Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp, the race after Detain's owners Juddmonte won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for a record-extending seventh time with Bluestocking.

Connections could have further Group 1 success to look forward to should Detain take up his entry in Doncaster's Futurity Trophy on October 26.

"He's got the right profile going into a race like that," said Shoemark. "It's likely to be soft ground on the day, he's a half-brother to Arrest and he likes soft ground.

"He's half the size of Arrest, who is large, wants a mile and a half – probably further –and has a big, long stride, whereas he's a lot neater, a lot tighter and he's got more speed."

This year's 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech won his first three starts at Kempton and Detain was cut to 20-1 (from 33) by Unibet for next year's Newmarket Classic.

"I'm not sure we beat a whole lot there but he's a proper stakes horse," Shoemark added. "I wouldn't like to say too much but he gave me a good feel."

Futurity Trophy (Doncaster, October 26)

Betfair: 4 The Lion In Winter, 9-2 Wimbledon Hawkeye, 5 Hotazhell, 6 Matauri Bay, 8 Detain, 10 Aftermath, Seaplane, 14 Royal Playwright, 16 bar

Analysis: 'He wowed under a penalty'

Detain overcame a slow start and steady pace to record a striking win on his course-and-distance debut in August in a race that has worked out well, and he wowed under a penalty this time, showing the benefit of that initial experience by making all.

The manner in which he quickened right away, with his rider seemingly keeping him up to his work to educate him, marks him down as a Group performer in the making, perhaps no surprise given he has some smart half siblings, most notably the same connections' Group 3-winning St Leger runner-up Arrest. It's safe to say this chap has more speed than that older sibling.

The Gosdens have a good line on the juvenile colts thanks to the efforts of Field Of Gold, fourth in the Lagardere and also Juddmonte-owned, and Detain looks every bit as promising, maybe even more so, with him now a general 20-1 shot for the 2,000 Guineas.

He's entered in the Futurity Trophy at the end of the month, Paddy Power cutting him to 8-1 (from 14) and will clearly be a major player if turning up, but it remains to be seen whether the Gosdens will want to subject him to what is usually a thorough test on deep ground on his first try over a mile to end the season.
Mark Brown, analyst

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