Mogul to prove best of O’Brien’s contestants

Mile test no problem on step up to Group One company

MOGUL is expected to provide Aidan O’Brien with a 10th victory in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

The Ballydoyle handler is just one short of the record set by the late and great Sir Henry Cecil and, having been responsible for 11 of the 12 contenders for this year’s renewal at the confirmation stage, he has whittled his team down to five.

Mogul appears very much the first string and is priced up accordingly, but it is not difficult to see why.

There has been market confidence behind the son of Galileo on each of his three starts and while favourite-backers had their fingers burnt after he was beaten into second on his Gowran debut, he has recouped the losses of those who kept the faith with successive wins.

After opening his account in some style at the Curragh in late August, Mogul took a step up to Group Two level in his stride on Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown a fortnight later.

He fully merits this afternoon’s move into Group One company and has proved he stays the mile on an easy surface, so there is much to like.

Proceedings on Town Moor get under way with the Listed Doncaster Stakes, in which the Tim Easterby-trained ART POWER gets the nod.

The Dark Angel colt has presumably taken a while to find his feet, because he did not make his debut until early September.

However, his third behind the useful Ascension at Newcastle promised plenty, and it was then impossible not to be impressed by the way he dismantled a competitive-looking novice field at York on his second start.

He is less experienced than many of his weekend rivals, but is open to plenty of improvement – and we know he goes in soft ground.

INDIANAPOLIS can notch a third win of the season for James Given in the Vertem Very Different Stockbrokers Handicap.

Formerly trained in Ireland by O’Brien, the four-year-old opened his account for his new connections on Shergar Cup day at Ascot during the summer but struggled on his next start on fast ground at York.

More demanding conditions clearly suited him much better when he rediscovered the winning trail at Leicester earlier in the month, and a 3lb hike does not look insurmountable.

Just a week after running an excellent race in defeat on British Champions Day at Ascot, ROYAL LINE is likely to take plenty of stopping in the Victoria Club Stakes at Newbury.

SELECTIONS

DONCASTER: 1.45 Art Power, 2.15 Lost In Time, 2.55 Indianapolis, 3.25 MOGUL (NAP), 4.00 Tarboosh, 4.35 Flying Pursuit, 5.10 Reloaded.

KELSO: 1.20 Pogue, 1.50 Benny’s Secret, 2.25 Prince Dundee, 3.00 Vintage Clouds, 3.35 Paris Protocol, 4.10 Middlebrow, 4.40 Temple Man, 5.15 Get Help.

NEWBURY: 1.40 Smokey Bear, 2.20 Royal Line, 2.50 Kinross, 3.20 Annie De Vega, 3.55 Separate, 4.30 Majestic Dawn, 5.05 Peace Prevails, 5.35 Percy Prosecco.

DOUBLE: Mogul and Royal Line.