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Derby favourite Giant Sequoia narrowly prevails in Futurity Stakes
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sat 22 Aug 2026
Giant Sequoia was forced to dig deep to land the Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.
Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel colt was locked in a sustained scrap for the lead with stablemate Florida Bay throughout the final furlong and a half.
Florida Bay had cut out the early running from Fozzie Stack’s Chesham Stakes winner Nola Soul, with Giant Sequoia sitting just behind in third ahead of Green Dreamer, Nail House and City of Dubai, who were all content to track the pace.
The winner challenged Florida Bay between two furlongs out and the furlong pole – and under a strong drive from Wayne Lordan, the 2-1 favourite asserted close home to land the seven-furlong Group Two by half a length.
Giant Sequoia maintained his position at the head of ante-post lists for next year’s Derby at Epsom, with Coral offering 12-1 from 16-1, while Paddy Power make him a 16-1 shot from 20-1 for the 2000 Guineas.
O’Brien, winning the Futurity for the 19th time, said: “He’s a lovely horse and I’m delighted with him. He’s still a baby and he’s still learning, but he learned a lot today because there was a proper pace on.
“The other horse was leaning on top of him early so he did well to keep his position. He had to stay in there earlier than he wanted.
“I’d say he’s a fair horse. I’d imagine he might come back for the National Stakes here.”
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