Vertem Futurity Trophy

Auguste Rodin was made Derby favorite after scoring a classy victory in the one-mile Vertem Futurity (G1) at Doncaster Oct. 22.

However, though the race earned him 10 points on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby table, it is the 1 ¹⁄₂-mile Derby (G1) at Epsom Downs next June for which he became favorite after this impressive effort on turf in the north of England.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Auguste Rodin was made the 9-4 favorite for the Vertem Futurity after winning two of his three previous starts, with his only loss coming on debut to subsequent Beresford (G2) winner Crypto Force.

Jockey Ryan Moore took the son of Japanese super sire Deep Impact to the stand-side rail of the straight mile and settled him near the back of the eight-horse field. He produced his charge two furlongs out and scored a smooth 3 ¹⁄₂-length victory.

Epictetus, who also settled on the stand-side rail, chased in vain but comfortably held second from Royal Ascot winner Holloway Boy, who had raced toward the inner rail and taken the lead three furlongs out but veered badly toward the stand rail and tired to finish third.

Auguste Rodin earned 10 points on the European Derby Road table, with Epictetus taking four points and Holloway Boy three points. The remaining points went to Dancing Magic (fourth, two points), and Salt Lake City (fifth, one point).

Like Auguste Rodin, most of the other points scorers are expected to be chasing European Classics as three-year-olds rather than American ones.

By Alastair Bull