Futurity Stakes – 2022

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There are ten acceptors for the $500,000 Group 1 Futurity Stakes.  The field is made up of one entire, two geldings, three mares and two 3 year olds.  Five are previous Group 1 winners.  The early favourite is Tofane.  The four time Group 1 winning mare returned with an excellent win the CF Orr Stakes a fortnight ago and looks to have a great chance again here.  Next in the betting is I’m Thunderstruck.  He won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap here last preparation and hit the line well behind Tofane first up.

Mo’unga has a strong first up record and is drawn well in barrier four for Jamie Kah.  Sierra Sue won the Sir Rupert Clarke at this track and trip in the spring under handicap conditions.  Turaath is a mare who likes fast speed, while Extreme Flight ran well fresh and looks to be the best chance out of the two three year olds.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. I’m Thunderstruck

Desperately unlucky this track & trip in the Sir Rupert Clarke, before taking out the Toorak Handicap and Golden Eagle in the spring.  Hit the line well in the CF Orr first up when all reports were he was under done going in.  Expect him to improve significantly off that.  One of the chances.

2. Streets Of Avalon

Dual Group 1 winner this track & trip and won this race in 2020.  Ran fifth in the Australia Stakes first up at the Valley.  Doubt he is going well enough to win here though.  Place chance at best.

3. Mo’unga

Upset the Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant over this distance first up in the Autumn.  Then ran well in three subsequent Group 1’s including the Cox Plate.  Has a very good first up record and gets Jamie Kah.  Rates highly.

4. Tofane

Quality mare.  Seized an opportunity to lead in the CF Orr first up after Lightsaber missed the start and kept going to win by 1.5 lengths.  Only going to improve off that.   Maps well again here.  The one to beat.

5. Sierra Sue

Had every chance first up in the CF Orr after landing in the one one in the run.  Hard to see her turning the tables on Tofane off that.  Consider for multiples.

6. Turaath

Two solid prep runs at 1200 to get ready for this.  She won three times over this distance in the Spring.  Rumoured to have had a little set back in between runs which I am wary of given I think she needs to run right up to her best to win to feature here.

7. Extreme Flight

Won the Gothic Stakes this track and trip last campaign.  Closed nicely in the Rubiton first up.  Better suited here stepping to 1400m.  Roughie with a chance.

8. Mr Mozart

Safely held first up.  Prefer others.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes 2022 (Caulfield 1200m)

Group 1 Oakleigh Plate 2022 (Caulfield 1100m)

Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes 2022 (Randwick 1600m)

Group 1 Surround Stakes 2022 (Randwick 1400m)