By Tom Frary
Justifying his G1 Futurity Trophy entry at Bath on Tuesday, Juddmonte's Item (Frankel) went through the gears to go two-for-two for the Andrew Balding stable ahead of next month's feature. Sent off the 4-6 favourite for the mile novice, the homebred who had scored at Kempton on debut earlier this month made all to readily record a 3 1/2-length success from the other previous winner Blue Courvoisier (Sea The Stars).
“This isn't an easy course for a big horse like that, but the key was to educate him today and he felt like he had a big engine,” jockey Rob Hornby said of the son of the Natalma Stakes heroine Capla Temptress (Lope De Vega).
“He finds the galloping part the easy part and would have learnt more before and after the race and Doncaster will suit him. He's only been on the grass once before at home, so it's exciting for connections. You'd love to use that beautiful big stride on a track like Doncaster and he has big feet, so cut in the ground wouldn't be an issue there.”
Item remains unbeaten at @BathRacecourse!
The son of Frankel leads his rivals from start to finish, finding plenty for pressure on the front end to land a contest that's been won by some nice types in previous years!@AndrewBalding2 | @rob_hornby18 pic.twitter.com/ba1kkYyA4d
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 30, 2025
The dam, who also captured the GIII My Charmer Stakes, hails from the family of the triple Group 3 winner and Arlington Million third Stotsfold (Barathea). Her yearling filly is by St Mark's Basilica, while she also has a filly foal by Dark Angel.
5th-Bath, £20,000, Novice, 9-30, 2yo, 8fT, 1:40.11, g/f.
ITEM (GB) (c, 2, Frankel {GB}–Capla Temptress {Ire} {GISW-Can, GSW-US, GSP-Eng, $455,876}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $22,462. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Inc; T-Andrew Balding.
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