3 minute read

Jessica Harrington’s highly promising youngster Hotazhell battled on bravely to deny Delacroix in the Group 1 Willliam Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes.

Jessica Harrington ensured her first winner on the Town Moor was one great significance when Hotazhell claimed the final British Group 1 of the season under Shane Foley. 

Sent off an easy-to-back 11/1 chance, despite winning the Group 2 Beresford Stakes in fine style at the Curragh last time, Hotazhell travelled kindly under Shane Foley before eyeballing the 15/8 market leader Delacroix as the pair entered the final furlong. 

It was clear that the final Group 1 of the season was going to develop into a two-horse race from that moment on and after a pulsating ding-dong finish on testing ground at Doncaster, the judge was called with neither Hotazhell nor Delacroix willing to give in. 

After a moment's pause, the judge announced that Hotazhell had prevailed by the narrowest of margins, James Owen's Royal Lodge winner Wimbledon Hawkeye back in third. 

Winning jockey Shane Foley said: "He's a very good, tough horse. We always thought he wanted a bit of slow ground, but this is probably a little bit too slow for him," said the winning rider Shane Foley on ITV Racing. 

"I think he won because he's a very good horse. We've had a really good year, but it's been a while since we've had a Group 1. It's important to have winners on these big days."

On the talents of trainer Jessica Harrington, Foley commented: "From a five-furlong two-year-old race to a three-mile novice hurdle at Cheltenham, it doesn't really matter to her."

Harrington, who was enjoying her first Group 1 since the 2022 Irish Oaks, told ITV Racing: "He's a smashing horse, very very tough and loves a battle,"

"I don't think he'll ever win races by wide margins; he loves just looking at the other horse and saying I'm better than you.

"He's a bit feisty. He ain't called Hotazhell for nothing!"

The son of Too Darn Hot was cut to 25/1 (from 33s) by Betfair for the 2,000 Guineas, while Coral made him the same price for next year's Epsom Derby. 

Harrington added: "I'd say we'll start off over a mile next year and see how he develops over the winter. He'll probably get a mile and a quarter, I'm not sure he'll get a mile and a half, but you never know, he's a very relaxed horse so he just might.

He's in both (Guineas) so we'll see.

"This is just the start of his career hopefully. He should go on and get better next season."