3 minute read
All the facts and figures on the Group One Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.
FUTURITY STAKES
1400m, Caulfield, $500,000, weight-for-age
HISTORY
* First run in 1898 when won by Resolute. Group One since 1980
* Lee Freedman with four winners - Mannerism (1992); Schillaci (1993/95); Mr Murphy (2001) and David Hayes - Primacy (1994); Fields Of Omagh (2006); Niconero (2008/09) - head the modern day trainers
* Jockey Roy Higgins won the race eight times while Damien Oliver has won four with Mannerism (1992); Testa Rossa (2000); Mr Murphy (2001); Suavito (2016)
* Desert Sky and Mr Murphy dead-heated in 2001
NOTABLE WINNERS
* Comedy King (1910); Phar Lap (1931); Ajax (1938/39/40); Bernborough (1946); Gunsynd (1972); Manikato (1979/80/81/83); Vo Rogue (1988); Schillaci (1995); Testa Rossa (2000); Fields Of Omagh (2006); Niconero (2008/09); More Joyous (2011); Black Heart Bart (2017); Brave Smash (2018)
TALKING POINTS
* Second 1400m Group One weight-for-age race in two weeks at Caulfield
* Brave Smash will be attempting to become the eighth overall and first since Niconero in 2008/09 to win in successive years
* Lindsay Park trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig will saddle up Redkirk Warrior looking for their first win since Niconero in 2009
* Star mare Alizee, one of three runners for Godolphin trainer James Cummings, is favourite to claim her first win in Melbourne at her second attempt
* Manuel will be attempting to claim the C F Orr Stakes-Futurity Stakes Group One double after his upset win two weeks ago
WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING
"They are dismissing him at their own peril ... he hasn't gone backwards, and he might have even got a bit better" - Trainer Tony Mcevoy on C F Orr Stakes winner Manuel
"I think she'll fly along. She's just in the best form and she couldn't be any better within herself" - Trainer James Cummings on Alizee
"He was racing over an unsuitable six furlongs first-up but I like the way that's kept him sharp for seven furlongs" - Hartnell's trainer James Cummings
"Look for that horse to be running another strong race at seven furlongs and I think he'll be crying out for the mile third-up" - James Cummings on Best Of Days
"He'll be very competitive on Saturday, and we're hopeful that if he can run top two it might get him into the All-Star Mile" -Le Romain 's trainer Kris Lees
"I think his previous run and his work since suggest he's going to run a good race" - Lees on Brave Smash