Auguste Rodin favored in Vertem Futurity Trophy

Trained by Irish maestro Aidan O’Brien, who has won this race 10 times, Auguste Rodin has been favored in all three starts. The son of Deep Impact and champion filly Rhododendron was a troubled second on debut to Crypto Force, the eventual winner of the Beresford (G2). Auguste Rodin came right back to break his maiden at Naas and captured the Champions Juvenile (G2) at Leopardstown during Irish Champions Weekend. Coolmore’s go-to rider, Ryan Moore, has the call. Stablemate Salt Lake City, a five-length maiden winner at Navan in his latest, keeps Wayne Lordan in the saddle.

Three rivals are coming off the Autumn S. (G3) at Newmarket – runner-up Epictetus, third Holloway Boy, and fourth Dancing Magic.

Epictetus missed by just a neck in the Autumn to Silver Knott, who is bound for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). From the yard of John and son Thady Gosden, Epictetus was a good-looking maiden winner at Newmarket in his first try. Frankie Dettori is back aboard the George Strawbridge homebred.

Holloway Boy had a less than ideal trip in the Autumn, and the Karl Burke pupil adds a visor here. A 40-1 upsetter of the Chesham S. in his debut at Royal Ascot, Holloway Boy has also placed in the Vintage (G2) and Somerville Tattersall (G3). Longshot Dancing Magic is still a maiden, but he was second in the Ascendant S. two starts back at Haydock.

Stormbuster toppled a couple of well-regarded opponents in a Newbury conditions race that tends to feature up-and-comers. In his prior outing for Andrew Balding, the Dubawi colt was second in the Stonehenge S. at Salisbury. 

King of Steel looked like one to follow when bolting up in his Nottingham premiere. The David Loughnane juvenile now makes a quick return just 10 days later.

Rounding out the field is Captain Wierzba, whose unfortunate incident in the Prix Thomas Bryon (G3) made international headlines. His jockey, Rossa Ryan, was elbowed out of the saddle by rival rider Christophe Soumillon in the middle of the race. Soumillon was subsequently suspended for 60 days for the dangerous maneuver. Ryan was uninjured, but since he’s riding at Newbury on Saturday, Captain Wierzba will reunite with original jockey Rob Hornby at Doncaster.

Post time for the Vertem Futurity Trophy, the fifth race, is 10:35 a.m. (ET), and you can watch and wager at TwinSpires.com.