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Juvenile Watch: Noble beast the one to take out of Futurity

Last Updated: Mon 26 Oct 2026

Ross Millar reviews the big race from Doncaster on Saturday and wonders whether a horse who finished behind Giant Sequoia would be capable of reversing the form on a faster surface.

FUTURITY STAKES REVIEW

Giant Sequoia saved his best performance of the season for its final assignment, powering clear in the William Hill Futurity Trophy to advertise his Classic credentials. The step up to a mile brought marked improvement from Aidan O’Brien’s colt, who relished Doncaster’s testing conditions and was strongest through the closing stages.

Patiently ridden at the rear by Dylan Browne McMonagle, he made steady headway over two furlongs out, travelling comfortably into a race in which several rivals were beginning to work harder. Asked to go about his business, he took command over a furlong from home and, despite edging right, stretched three lengths clear of Gran Dia.

Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle after Giant Sequoia's success

The final 110 yards were particularly persuasive. With the result still there to be settled, Giant Sequoia found plenty, putting daylight between himself and his pursuers. There were signs of immaturity, but these only added to the impression that we are some way from seeing the finished article.

A mile on heavy ground presented a different examination from his previous assignments, and he looked thoroughly suited by it. His pedigree offers encouragement for middle distances next season: by Frankel and out of the 2019 Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood, he should have considerably more to offer as his stamina is drawn out.

I’d been underwhelmed by his Group Two success over seven furlongs at the Curragh and was subsequently too willing to accept his National Stakes disappointment as confirmation of that assessment. Beaten around 10 lengths that afternoon, he appeared to have had his limitations exposed. This was a reminder of the danger of allowing an initial opinion to form into a hardened opinion from limited evidence.

O’Brien explained that the yard’s horses had been under the weather when Giant Sequoia contested the National Stakes. That provides important context, and his enthusiasm afterwards suggested this performance was far closer to what he had expected all along.

“He’s a proper horse. He’s a Guineas, Derby, French Derby horse I’d say,” was his assessment post race.

His odds gave shortened to 12-1 for Epsom, although personally the French Derby holds particular appeal. The likelihood of encountering some cut in the ground at Chantilly would be a positive, while an extended ten furlongs should provide a suitable examination. He has earned his place in those conversations, though I'd be circumspect of him on faster conditions.

Gran Dia also emerged with considerable credit. A Star Performer following his debut success at Salisbury, he was tackling Group 1 company on just his second career start and showed plenty to justify my early enthusiasm.

Prominent throughout, he was outpaced and ran green as the tempo increased, but rallied willingly inside the final furlong to reclaim second. I particularly liked his attitude once the winner had gone beyond recall; he continued to find for pressure.

He looked a lighter physical specimen than several rivals, leaving obvious scope for a winter’s development. With greater strength and the benefit of this experience, he should progress considerably. I remain confident he can develop into a Group 1 three-year-old.

Noble Exhibit: Worth another chance on a faster surface

Noble Exhibit is another to retain faith in. He travelled well into contention and briefly led, but looked immature when asked to put the race to bed. He hung right, struggled to pick up in the heavy ground and weakened late, losing second in the final 110 yards.

There was enough promise in the way he moved through the race to remain optimistic of his ability. A more mature Noble Exhibit, meeting a sounder surface, should finish his race with greater purpose. I'll wager that if he were to meet Giant Sequoia on a sound surface next season he'll reverse this form.

THREE FOR THE TRACKER

There will be plenty of chat as to the merits of potential Classic contenders for next year, so in a bid to be a bit different here are three for your tracker that are capable of winning early next season.

Enactment (Ralph Beckett)

Was green throughout his debut at Newmarket yet still found a way to win. The soft ground he encountered there would not match his fast ground pedigree so this performance can be significantly upgraded.

Kicking Bear (Ed Walker)

Showed promise on his debut at Newbury and confirmed that promise with a commanding win at Newmarket over seven furlongs.

He made all and raced exuberantly and having shot clear he was getting closed on at the line. He's open to plenty of improvement, even if dropped back to six furlongs on a stiff track.

Night Of Gold (George Boughey)

Appreciated the step-up in trip on his third start when staying on strongly over 1m2f. He's all about stamina and can improve again up in distance as a three-year old. I fancy he's far better than his mark of 86.

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