Detain Emerges as Major Contender for William Hill Trophy

Detain thrust himself into the spotlight for the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on October 26 with a commanding win at Kempton on Wednesday. The John and Thady Gosden-trained juvenile, already a winner on debut at the same track in August, was tasked with conceding a 7lb penalty in the seven-furlong novice stakes.

Ridden by Kieran Shoemark, the colt quickly seized control of the race, surging into an early lead. With the outcome never in doubt by the final furlong, Shoemark rode Detain out to test his limits, and the colt responded by extending his margin of victory to a dominant seven lengths.

This impressive performance prompted bookmakers to shorten his odds for the season's final Group One, cutting him to 7-1 from 20-1 for the Futurity Trophy.

Reflecting on Detain's potential for the Doncaster race, Shoemark told Racing TV, "He’s got the right profile for a race like that. Soft ground is likely, and as a half-brother to Arrest, who also handles soft conditions, he’s well-suited. Though he’s much smaller than Arrest, who thrives over longer distances, Detain is more compact and has greater speed."

While acknowledging the quality of the opposition might not have been top-class, Shoemark was confident in Detain’s ability, adding, "He’s a proper stakes horse and gave me a really good feel."

William Hill spokesman Lee Phelps also expressed optimism about Detain’s future, saying, "The Juddmonte team are in top form, following their Arc win with Bluestocking last weekend, and now they have another promising contender in Detain. His stunning Kempton victory has seen us slash his odds to 7-1 for the William Hill Futurity."

Detain is now firmly in the mix as the UK Flat season draws to a close, with expectations high for his next outing at Doncaster.