Vertem Futurity Trophy: a runner-by-runner guide to Doncaster's feature

Last year's renewal of the Vertem Futurity Trophy saw Saxon Warrior get the better of Roaring Lion in a memorable finish.

With those colts having gone on to win five Group 1 races between them this season, all eyes will be on Doncaster at 4.05 on Saturday in the hope we could see another hugely informative contest.

Here are the runners set to advertise their Classic credentials.

Circus Maximus is bred on the same cross as Alice SpringsCredit: Alain Barr

b c Galileo - Duntle (Danehill Dancer)
Bred by Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd

If Galileo is to be represented by his second Vertem Futurity Trophy winner, following the success of Kingsbarns in 2012, it will have to be a good afternoon for Circus Maximus, the champion sire's only runner in the race.

There are no concerns about the trip for this colt, not only being by Galileo but also out of Duntle, herself a Group 2 winner over a mile in the 2013 Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

Circus Maximus is also bred on the hugely successful cross of Galileo and Danehill Dancer, which has already produced stars like Alice Springs, Minding and The Gurkha.

Galileo is also represented in the race through his sire sons Nathaniel and Australia and as damsire of Magna Grecia.

Pedigree rating:

Dashing Willoughby
b c Nathaniel - Miss Dashwood (Dylan Thomas)
Bred by Meon Valley Stud

From the third crop of Nathaniel, sire of the dual Arc heroine Enable, Dashing Willoughby was bought by his trainer, Andrew Balding, for 70,000gns during Book 1 of last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

His dam was a winner over 1m4f so stamina is assured, and while Dylan Thomas's oldest daughters are aged just ten, he is already responsible as damsire for the likes of Kingman colt Persian King, who claimed the scalp of Magna Grecia in this month's Group 3 Autumn Stakes, and the Listed-placed I'll Have Another.

Pedigree rating:

Great Scot
b c Requinto - La Rosiere (Mr Greeley)
Bred by Clyne, Mound, Thompson

Great Scot is the sole stakes winner to date from three crops by Coolmore's Requinto, whose best form came at the minimum distance when he won the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes in 2011.

Already a Listed winner over a mile, Great Scot is receiving an injection of stamina via his dam, who was placed up to 1m2f. While he is no forlorn hope, whatever he achieves at Doncaster, he has already more than repaid his connections having been a vendor buyback at £2,500 at last year's Tattersalls Ireland Ascot November Sale.

Pedigree rating:

Kick On: one of a fine debut crop by Charm SpiritCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Kick On
b c Charm Spirit - Marika (Marju)
Bred by Shutford Stud

Group 1-winning miler Charm Spirit has made a fine start to his stallion career, with Kick On one of 23 winners from his debut northern hemisphere crop, a group that has also produced the Group 3 winner Yourtimeisnow.

Kick On is another graduate of Book 1 in Saturday's race and was bought by David Redvers for 135,000gns from Pier House Stud in County Kildare and there is plenty of encouragement to be found in his pedigree as far as Saturday's race is concerned.

His damsire, Marju, already has a winner of this contest on his CV courtesy of Marcel and for good measure, he is also the damsire of top-class milers Canford Cliffs and Ribchester.

Pedigree rating:

King Ottokar
b c Motivator - Treasure (Anabaa)
Bred by EARL Haras Du Quesnay

King Ottokar has this race in his family with Motivator having won the 2004 renewal, and while his sire's stallion career has not hit the heights hoped for, he has proved his ability to produce a very good one courtesy of the great Treve.

This colt is bred on the same cross as that outstanding Haras Du Quesnay-bred mare, being out of a daughter of Anabaa, a fact which may well have contributed to his €280,000 price tag at the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale earlier this year.

Pedigree rating:

Kuwait Currency
ch c Kitten's Joy - Thebignbadestbunny (Smart Strike)
Bred by Kenneth L Ramsey & Sarah K Ramsey

Kitten's Joy has been advertised to great effect in Europe this year thanks to the exploits of last year's runner-up Roaring Lion and this colt was making fine progress before finding Too Darn Hot too good in the Dewhurst last time.

He was picked up at the Keeneland September Sale for $50,000 by Grove Stud, who subsequently sold him for 72,000gns to Peter and Ross Doyle at the Tattersalls Breeze-Up in May.

Pedigree rating:

Magna Grecia: seeking to become third straight winner with Galileo as damsireCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Magna Grecia
b c Invincible Spirit - Cabaret (Galileo)
Bred by Woodnook Farm Pty Ltd

The high-class Invincible Spirit has already produced some fine milers in the shape of Kingman and Territories and the injection of Galileo's influence on Magna Grecia's dam side can only be viewed as a positive.

Last year's winner, Saxon Warrior, is out of a daughter of Coolmore's great sire, as was the 2016 hero Rivet.

Pedigree rating:

Phoenix Of Spain
gr c Lope De Vega - Lucky Clio (Key Of Luck)
Bred by Mrs Cherry Faeste

Another graduate of Book 1, a 220,000gns Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock buy, Phoenix Of Spain is the latest smart juvenile colt by Lope De Vega.

Belardo won the Washington Singer Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes at two before going on to win the Lockinge Stakes, and Phoenix Of Spain looks more than capable of scoring over the latter's mile trip being a half-brother to Central Square, a winner over 1m2f.

Pedigree rating:

Raakib Alhawa
b c Kingman - Starlet (Sea The Stars)
Bred by Springbank Way Stud

One of three representatives of first-season sires, Raakib Alhawa was a €140,000 purchase by Blandford Bloodstock from the Goffs Orby Sale.

Kingman has enjoyed an outstanding time with his maiden crop of runners, being represented by the likes of Calyx and Sangarius, already in the 2019 Classic mix.

Hopes too must be high for Sea The Stars as a burgeoning broodmare sire, given not only the quality of mares he has covered but also the exploits of his half-brother Galileo in this field.

Pedigree rating:

Turgenev
b c Dubawi - Tasaday (Nayef)
Bred by Godolphin

Dubawi has enjoyed an outstanding 2018 and, having never previously produced a Group 1-winning juvenile colt, has been represented by both Too Darn Hot and Quorto at the highest level this year. The two are the highest rated juveniles of 2018 so far by Racing Post Ratings.

Turgenev's dam, meanwhile, was a Group 2 winner over 1m2f, so it is no surprise he has proven more than capable over this trip already.

Pedigree rating:

Western Australia
ch c Australia - What A Treasure (Cadeaux Genereux)
Bred by Pier House Stud

The final runner by a first-season sire, Western Australia's father was a Breeders' Cup trial winner at two before enjoying an outstanding Classic year in 2014.

As a damsire, Cadeaux Genereux is responsible for three horses officially rated in the 120s in Dream Ahead, Harry Angel and Notnowcato.

Pedigree rating:

Vertem Futurity Trophy card