Hotazhell outduels Delacroix in Futurity Trophy at Doncaster

Oct 26, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Saturday’s Futurity Trophy (G1) at Doncaster came down to a fierce battle between Irish shippers Hotazhell and favorite Delacroix. In the final strides, Hotazhell began to inch in front to win his second straight Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby race.

Trained by Jessica Harrington for the Silverton Hill Partnership, Hotazhell previously captured the Sept. 28 Beresford (G2) at the Curragh. His Futurity Trophy victory was likewise worth 10 points, doubling his tally to 20 and putting him atop the Euro/Mideast Road leaderboard. But the European classics are on his agenda, not the Kentucky Derby (G1), for 2025.

Delacroix, by Dubawi and out of Hall of Famer Tepin, was favored to give trainer Aidan O’Brien a 12th win in the Futurity Trophy. A gutsy winner of the Autumn (G3) in his latest, Delacroix again fought his heart out here.

Always prominent attending pacesetter Seaplane, Delacroix smoothly took over down the straightaway. Hotazhell, who was also in a close stalking position, advanced to challenge, and the duel was on as they pulled away from the rest.

Delacroix initially appeared to be traveling the better of the pair, but Hotazhell was relentless. Under regular rider Shane Foley, he edged ahead. Then Delacroix tried to reassert on the inside, only to come up a nose short at the wire. The final time for the mile, 1:41.95, indicates how soft the turf was at Doncaster.

The result was an advertisement for the outstanding stallion Dubawi. Aside from siring Delacroix, he is also the paternal grandsire of Hotazhell, by Dubawi’s son Too Darn Hot.

Hotazhell, who was surprisingly overlooked in the betting, paid $23.40 stateside. His scorecard now stands at 6-4-1-0, reflecting a tally in the Tyros (G3) at Leopardstown and a runner-up effort in the Curragh’s Futurity (G2) along with his Euro/Mideast Road scores.

Delacroix earned five points while finishing 4 3/4 lengths clear of Wimbledon Hawkeye, the winner of the Royal Lodge (G2). With his 10 points from the Royal Lodge, and three points for his third here, Wimbledon Hawkeye has a total of 13. Next came Seaplane (two points), Anno Domini (one point), Detain, Nebras, and Royal Playwright.

The Euro/Mideast Road will resume in late February on all-weather tracks, with the Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions race at Kempton and the Patton at Dundalk. The grand finale is the April 5 UAE Derby (G2) on the dirt on Dubai World Cup night.

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