Ancient Wisdom rolls to Futurity Trophy victory over heavy going

Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby made a prudent choice just a few days ago supplementing Ancient Wisdom into the Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes on Saturday at Doncaster Racecourse in England. Two weeks after he bowled through a soft Newmarket course to win the Autumn Stakes by more than three lengths, Ancient Wisdom handled heavy going Saturday better than any of his six rivals, posting a 1 3/4-length win in a straight-course mile that’s often a pointer to 3-year-old Classic success.

Though he was a latecomer to the race, Ancient Wisdom was far from overlooked, going off at 4-5 on the North American tote and at 5/4 in England. The expected pacesetter Battle Cry was scratched after a starting-gate incident, leaving Ancient Wisdom and William Buick to make the running. The field was tightly bunched with a furlong left to race before Ancient Wisdom found a gear no one else could match. One would be hard-pressed to call it high gear, since the winning time was a glacial 1:46.45, but being fastest on slow ground is a key component of European racing.

Diego Velazquez was the favorite earlier this week after winning his first two starts for trainer Aidan O’Brien, but both those Irish starts came on good ground and Diego Velazquez could not cope with the deeper footing Saturday, fading to sixth. Devil’s Point held second by a head over God’s Window, who may have finished fastest while never threatening the winner.

Ancient Wisdom is by Dubawi out of Golden Valentine, by Dalakhani, and his connections may be hoping for rain on Derby Day late next spring.

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