Futurity Trophy Tips & Odds

Futurity Trophy Tips 

Check out our Futurity Trophy tips here...

What is the Futurity Trophy? 

A Group 1 race over a mile, Doncaster's Futurity Trophy is one of the key two-year-old races of the season, and regularly serves as a key trial for the following year's classic races - particularly the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Epsom Derby. 

The last British Group 1 race of the season, five Futurity winners have gone on to win the Epsom Derby the following season, with the most recent being the Aidan O'Brien-trained Camelot in 2011/12. 

What happened in the 2023 Futurity Trophy? 

Charlie Appleby's Ancient Wisdom pushed his name into the 2000 Guineas picture with a victory in the 2023 Futurity Trophy, where he beat Devil's Point impressively.

The history of the Futurity Trophy

Established in 1961, the Futurity Trophy has grown into one of the key end of season races for two-year-olds. Originally called the Timeform Gold Cup, the race has been known by various names since thanks to different sponsors, but the majority of racing fans will remember the race best as the Racing Post Trophy - a title it held between 1989 and 2017.

Traditionally, the winner of the Futurity Trophy becomes one of the favourites in the betting for the following year's classic races, particularly the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby. While horses regularly win the 2000 Guineas after winning the Futurity Trophy (the most recent being Magna Grecia in 2018/19), a Futurity winner who goes on to win the Derby is more uncommon, and only five horses have achieved the feat to date. 

Who is the most iconic winner of the Futurity Trophy? 

Some legendary names have tasted success in the Futurity Trophy race down the years, with Celtic Swing perhaps producing the most visually taking victory in the race when sauntering to success in 1994. Celtic Swing's performance saw him crowned as Champion European two-year-old, and it earned him the highest-ever Timeform rating for a juvenile to boot - something which still hasn't been topped, though Pinatubo went awfully close when winning the 2019 National Stakes at the Curragh. Celtic Swing failed to justify odds-on favouritism in the following year's 2000 Guineas, however, finishing second to French raider Pennekamp, though he did subsequently win the French Derby at Chantilly. 

Since then we have seen multiple future stars win at Doncaster, with High Chaparral (2001), St Nicholas Abbey (2009) and Camelot (2011) perhaps the three best-known since the turn of the century. Aidan O'Brien has enjoyed a wonderful record in the race of late, winning it on nine occasions.

Are there any trials for the Futurity Trophy? 

There's a clear path to the Futurity Trophy for two-year-olds throughout the season, with the race seen as the final test before the following year's classics - and plenty of horses use this as their last outing before the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. 

In 2018 we saw Magna Grecia run in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket before winning at Doncaster, while in 2017 Saxon Warrior contested the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh before winning the Futurity Trophy. Another race to keep a close eye on is the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, and it isn't uncommon for horses to take their chance in both Group 1 races.

Who is the most successful jockey in the Futurity Trophy? 

Pat Eddery and Lester Piggott are among the most famous jockeys of all time, and both tasted plenty of success in Doncaster, with five wins apiece. Eddery managed his victories between 1976 and 1992 with Sporting Yankee (1976), Dactylographer (1977), Beldale Flutter (1980), Reference Point (1986) and Armiger (1992) obliging for him.

Who is the most successful trainer in the Futurity Trophy? 

Sir Henry Cecil was peerless as a trainer and the Futurity Trophy was one of his favourite races during his long and esteemed career. Cecil saddled the winner on no less than ten occasions, with Approval (1969), Take Your Place (1975), Hello Gorgeous (1979), Dunbeath (1982), Lanfranco (1984), Reference Point (1986), Be My Chief (1989), Peter Davies (1990), Armiger (1992) and King's Theatre (1993) all coming home in front.