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
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