Group One Vertem Futurity Stakes Guide 2022

Auguste Rodin is now two from three and he won with ease last time out. He was stepped up to a mile for the first time at Leopardstown, where he stayed well and got the better of the useful Caroline Street.

This was a G2, so he deserves his place in the line-up, he’s extremely well bred and will likely start a warm order for a trainer who targets this race.

Captain Wierzba was second in a decent novice at Windsor in May, before getting off the mark in a 7f novice at Ffos Las, in good style.

He made all that day and got the trip well. He was sent to France for the G3 Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie, but he met a melee in running, and he unseated his rider.

If he’s sound after that mishap, he could good well.

Stormbuster got off the mark at the fourth time of asking last time out in a mile conditions race at Newbury. He did that very well, winning by five lengths from the odds-on favourite, Highbank in second.

Stormbuster had already ran to a high level prior to winning his first race, as shown when second to Flying Honours in a listed race at Salisbury.

He’s clearly still improving and must be feared.

Holloway Boy, the winner of the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot on debut, has ran with credit all season.

He was recently third in what looks the key trial for this in the Autumn stakes, behind Epictetus, but in front of Dancing Magic.

He has found one or two too good since his debut win, but he’s clearly a high class horse who will give his running.

Another for trainer Aidan O’Brien, though, this horse looks his second string. Salt Lake City won at the third time of asking last time out at Navan, in a mile maiden on soft ground.

He did it well there, and made all quite comfortably. He’s impeccably bred, and you’d be foolish to completely write off a horse with this sort of profile.

Dancing Magic is still a maiden, but he’s ran with credit on every start. He ran in the Autumn Stakes (G2) last time out, and though he did finish behind Epictetus and Holloway Boy in second and third respectively, it still represents a solid run.

He just keeps finding one or two too good, and he’ll likely suffer the same fate here.

Epictetus won what looks like one of the best maiden races we’ve had in July at Newmarket. He was put away for a few months afterwards.

He reappeared recently, running a good, neck second to Silver Knott in the G3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.

That was an exceptional effort on just his second start after a break, so with that run under his belt, this colt must be feared.

King Of Steel is a very well bred Wootton Bassett Colt, who made a bright start to racing when winning a maiden race at Nottingham over 8.5f.

He proved he got the mile there, and some – and he ran out a ready winner. He may well go under the radar in the context of this race, but his stamina could pay dividends.