Doncaster wrap: Ancient Wisdom sparks Classic dreams

Ancient Wisdom showed an abundance of spirit and stamina to land the Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster.

Charlie Appleby’s charge made the running early on but was headed by Devil’s Point and Dancing Gemini when the pace quickened three furlongs out.

However, Ancient Wisdom got a second wind in the latter stages and galloped on strongly to outstay Devil’s Point by a length and three-quarters.

William Buick’s mount was sent off the 5-4 favourite, while God’s Window stayed on to finish a head behind Devil’s Point in third. Aidan O’Brien’s Diego Velazquez faded out of contention.

Ancient Wisdom, supplemented for the race on Monday, was cut to as short as 6-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power for next year’s Derby, while Coral offered 8-1 for him to win the Epsom Classic.

The start of the race was delayed by a nasty incident when Battle Cry reared up in the stalls and fell backwards, unseating jockey Ben Curtis in the process.

That forced the O’Brien-trained outsider to be withdrawn but both horse and jockey were thankfully able to walk away.

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.”

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 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.”

Ballymount Boy secured a deserved big-race victory with a determined display in the William Hill Prospect Stakes.

Adrian Keatley’s star juvenile pushed subsequent Middle Park hero Vandeek to a length in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at Goodwood in August and filled the runner-up spot again in the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York three weeks later.

A tilt at Group One glory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend did not work out, but he made the most of having his sights lowered to Listed company on Town Moor.

James Doyle’s mount was a 5-2 joint-favourite dropping back from seven to six furlongs and appeared at pains to play his cards as late as possible.

Alaskan Gold looked the likely winner after grabbing the lead inside the final furlong, but Ballymount Boy eventually reeled him in and was half a length to the good at the line.

Doyle said: “Adrian told me to try and get there fairly late, probably not quite that late but it worked out well in the end.

“We didn’t want him to fly the lid as he overraced in France the last day, so I tried to get him to break a bit steadier and we overdid it slightly, so it put us on the back foot.

“It gave us plenty of targets and there was a point I was going to come out and try and close, but then we would have had daylight for a good two and a half furlongs so I just thought I’d try and be brave and on this ground it can open up. It worked out nicely.

“What he’s doing this year is purely on ability. Even before I hit the front there, he pricked his ears and had a look about. I don’t think he’s fully wised up to what it’s all about, so hopefully when that comes next year, they’ll have a bit of fun with him.”

Keatley said: “We’re relieved more than pleased, just to get a win into him. It’s good to finish the year like that. He’s had a couple of hard races and it’s nice for the horse.

“He’s been on the go since the breeze-ups and he’s going to get a deserved break. Things didn’t work out running downhill into the bend in France but he’s a good horse.

“Hopefully we’ll have another good summer with him next year. We’ll start off at six furlongs, I hope he can start on a winning note in the spring and go on from there.”