Baker’s Dozen Confirmed For Futurity Trophy

[Wandering Eyes]

Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) is one of nine Aidan O'Brien-trained colts to stand his ground for the G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday. The impressive Killarney winner went on to take the G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes.

Other entrants hailing from Ballydoyle include G3 Zetland Stakes hero Pierre Bonnard (Camelot), the group-placed Action (Frankel), the stakes-placed Frescobaldi (No Nay Never), G2 Beresford Stakes winner Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett), New Zealand (Frankel), G3 Killavullan Stakes victor Dorset (Wootton Bassett), Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Basilica), and G3 Eyrefield Stakes third Port Of Spain (St Mark's Basilica). The last-named trio all ran on Saturday.

Andrew Balding's unbeaten Juddmonte runner Item (Frankel) looks to have the greatest chance of upsetting the O'Brien brigade. His connections are keeping a close eye on underfoot conditions, as if it was too heavy on Saturday, he would be withdrawn.

“Once he broke his maiden Andrew had this race in mind but he needed to get some more experience and the natural way to do that wasn't clear, so we said we'd go for another novice on the grass and the race at Bath presented itself,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“I know the Clive Cox horse that was second [Blue Courvoisier] is well regarded but he did it well.

“Ground is obviously going to be a concern. We feel like he skipped off the all-weather pretty good and Bath was nice ground the last day, so if there was to be a lot of rain and it went testing he probably won't run.

“There's rain early in the week so it's a watching brief. He's a horse we like but he's probably not a horse who would want a slog. Good to soft or anything like that would be fine.

“His dam [Capla Temptress] won a Grade I in America and she liked it quick, so have her other progeny.”

Ralph Beckett's group-placed Cape Orator (Mohaather), John and Thady Gosden's G2 Champagne Stakes second Oxagon (Frankel) and Adrian Keatley's Rochfortbridge (Mehmas) are the others not trained at Ballydoyle still engaged.

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