By Tom Frary
It was as tight as it gets between the two Irish colts at the end of Saturday's G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy, with Silverton Hill's G2 Beresford Stakes and G3 Tyros Stakes winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}–Azenzar {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) nosing out Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for the Doncaster feature. Positioned close to the early pace by Shane Foley, the 11-1 shot moved to Ballydoyle's 15-8 favourite passing two out and the two colts with the most pattern-race experience soon had it between them.
There was some leaning and bumping after battle commenced, but it was a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other with Hotazhell having his nose marginally ahead in the bobber. There was a 4 3/4-length margin back to Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko) in third as the unexposed contenders struggled to make an impact.
“He's a very tough horse and he gave everything and dug in deep there,” winning trainer Jessie Harrington said. “He loves a battle, I don't think he'll ever win by a large margin–he loves just looking at the other horse and saying 'I'm better than you'. He's a little bit feisty, he isn't called Hotazhell for nothing!”
Hotazhell, whose sole defeats came when fourth on debut behind Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) at Leopardstown and at the hands of Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in The Curragh's G2 Futurity Stakes, is being aimed at one of the 2,000 Guineas according to his trainer. “I think he might get 10 furlongs next year, but we'll start off over a mile,” she added. “I'm not sure he'll get a mile and a half, but he is a very relaxed horse. He's in the Irish and he'll be in the English Guineas, so we'll see how the spring unfolds.”
Aidan O'Brien said of Delacroix, “He's run a stormer. We hope that bodes well for next year.”
James Owen said of Wimbledon Hawkeye, “He was lost in the ground. He showed his heart and how good he is in the way he battled on to finish third. James [Doyle] said it's a lot softer here today than it was at Newmarket. He was struggling in it, but he's a lovely horse for next year. I'm thrilled to be here mixing it at the top and he's done us proud.”
Pedigree Notes
Hotazhell, who becomes the third group 1 winner for his second-crop sire, is out of Azenzar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who was sold for just 16,000gns at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale and whose yearling colt by No Nay Never was a 380,000gns purchase by M V Magnier and White Birch Farm at this month's Tattersalls Book 2. She is a granddaughter of the listed winner and G3 Prix Vanteaux-placed Renashaan (Fr) (Darshaan {GB}) whose daughter Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Goldaway {Ire}) captured five of these. She was also responsible for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Medecis (GB) (Machiavelian), while this is also the family of the dual G1 Gold Cup hero Royal Rebel (GB) (Robellino) and the triple group 1 winner Getaway (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).
Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
WILLIAM HILL FUTURITY TROPHY STAKES-G1, £215,500, Doncaster, 10-26, 2yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:41.95, sf.
1–HOTAZHELL (GB), 129, c, 2, by Too Darn Hot (GB)
1st Dam: Azenzar (GB), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Dashing (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Renashaan (Fr), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (70,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT; 200,000gns
2yo '24 TATBRE). O-Silverton Hill Partnership; B-Blue Diamond
Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley.
£127,576. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Ire, 6-4-1-0, $312,524.
Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Delacroix (Ire), 129, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Tepin, by Bernstein.
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. TDN Rising Star. O-Derrick Smith,
Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Tepin Syndicate (IRE);
T-Aidan O'Brien. £48,250.
3–Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB), 129, c, 2, Kameko–Eva Maria
(GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-The
Gredley Family; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd (GB);
T-James Owen. £24,114.
Margins: NO, 4 3/4, 1. Odds: 11.00, 1.88, 3.00.
Also Ran: Seaplane (GB), Anno Domini (GB), Detain (Ire), Nebras (GB), Royal Playwright (GB).
What a FINISH!
Hotazhell lands the Group 1 William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at @DoncasterRaces for Shane Foley and @Jessica_Racing… pic.twitter.com/PJwVXO8hHo
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 26, 2024
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