By Tom Frary
After a 15-minute delay caused by Ballydoyle's Battle Cry (Ire) (No Nay Never) turning over in the stalls, Godolphin's Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}–Golden Valentine {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) proved the most effective on Doncaster's deep ground to justify 5-4 favouritism in Saturday's G1 Kameko Futurity Trophy. Back in action a fortnight after winning Newmarket's G3 Autumn S., the Charlie Appleby trainee was left in front initially and looked beaten for a few strides as the pack closed in two out. Regaining momentum to ultimately outstay his rivals, the TDN Rising Star who was the second-highest-priced lot at the 2022 Arqana Deauville August Sale had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) at the line, with God's Window (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a head away in third.
“It was a proper test and the ground is such that it's hard to show any brilliance,” Buick said. “He loves a battle and 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. I don't think it's crazy that he could be a Guineas horse–he put a lot of distance between him and them in the Autumn Stakes.”
Educated in novices at Haydock and Newmarket before finishing third in the season's benchmark contest in Britain, the Listed Pat Eddery S. at Ascot on King George day, Ancient Wisdom was able to churn out consistent fractions on this ground where others fluctuated. Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) was the first to attack passing two out and was ahead for a brief period, but his effort took its toll whereas the one in royal blue was only getting going.
Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said, “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 was obviously very soft ground out there and he lengthened rather than quickened.”
David Menuisier's rich vein of form continued here with Devil's Point capping a stellar week for the stable. “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 is absolutely marvellous,” the trainer said. “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.”
It's Ancient Wisdom who powers to victory in the Group 1 Kameko Futurity at @DoncasterRaces for William Buick and Charlie Appleby! pic.twitter.com/WFkqOOJBrx
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 28, 2023
Pedigree Notes
Ancient Wisdom's dam Golden Valentine, whose yearling colt by Lope De Vega (Ire) was a €170,000 purchase by Elliott Bloodstock Services at the Arqana Deauville October Sale, was successful in the G3 Prix Minerve. She is kin to three other stakes winners including the GIII Robert J. Frankel S. scorer and GI Rodeo Drive S. runner-up Luck (Kitten's Joy). The second dam is the G3 Prix Cleopatre winner Gold Round (Ire) (Caerleon), a half-sister to the astounding 14-times group 1-winning machine Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) who is also the second dam of the G3 Prix Vanteaux winner and GI E. P. Taylor S.-placed Platane (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}).
Goldikova, who produced the G3 Prix Chloe winner and G1 Prix de Diane-placed Terrakova (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G1 Prix Rothschild-placed Goldistyle (Ire) by Ancient Wisdom's sire Dubawi (Ire), is a full-sister to the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac winner and GI Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Anodin (Ire) and a half to Galileo's G1 Prix Vermeile heroine and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Galikova (Fr). Golden Valentine also has a 2023 full-brother to Ancient Wisdom to come.
Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
KAMEKO FUTURITY TROPHY S.-G1, £215,500, Doncaster, 10-28, 2yo, 8fT, 1:46.45, hy.
1–ANCIENT WISDOM (FR), 129, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Golden Valentine (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $125,200), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Gold Round (Ire), by Caerleon
3rd Dam: Born Gold, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. TDN Rising Star. (€2,000,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-S.A.S.U. Ecurie Des Monceaux & S.C. LNJ Foxwoods (FR); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £127,576. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-1, $215,169. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Devil's Point (Ire), 129, c, 2, New Bay (GB)–Hairy Rocket (GB), by Pivotal (GB).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€200,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 475,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Clive Washbourn; B-Hamwood Stud Unlimited Company (IRE); T-David Menuisier. £48,250.
3–God's Window (GB), 129, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Perfect Clarity (GB), by Nathaniel (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Cayton Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £24,114.
Margins: 1 3/4, HD, 3/4. Odds: 1.25, 16.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Deira Mile (Ire), Dancing Gemini (Ire), Diego Velazquez (Ire), Redhot Whisper (Ire). Scratched: Battle Cry (Ire).
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