Tips Category: Futurity Stakes

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2023 Futurity Stakes Runner By Runner Preview, Odds & Tips

The time-honoured Futurity Stakes, now worth $750,000, is the second of three Group 1’s to be held at Sandown Lakeside Racecourse on Saturday. Superstar sprinters, milers and even some of the country’s greatest stayers have taken out the 1400m weight-for-age feature in years gone by and a quality field has been assembled yet again on what should be a cracking days racing, highlighted by the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes for the two-year-olds. 

Looking at the market, Dabble has I’m Thunderstruck at the top, despite his first up defeat. He’s currently a $3.20 chance, just ahead of Alligator Blood at $3.80, who resumes here from a spell. Doncaster winner, Mr Brightside, is on the next line at $5.50 along with Nugget at $6.00.

As punters, we know anything can happen in horse racing and these small fields can become very tactical affairs. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2023 Futurity Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips. 

1. I’m Thunderstruck (3) – $3.20F
Jockey – Jamie Kah 59kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr

Did more than enough first up in the CF Orr coming off the back of a slow tempo and running some good late sectionals. Stays at 1400m where the tempo will more than likely be pedestrian again. All Star Mile is his main goal but will take plenty of beating if the race sets up in his favour.

2. Alligator Blood (4) – $3.80
Jockey – Blake Shinn 59kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott


Dual Group 1 winner in the Spring who resumes here off the back of a couple of solid hitouts at the trials. He’s a three time winner first up and has a fantastic 1400m record. Should find the front in the small field here which gives him a massive tactical advantage. The one they have to run down.

3. Mr Brightside (5) – $5.50
Jockey – Craig Williams 59kg
Trainer – Ben & JD Hayes

Really got home hard first up in the CF Orr clocking some good late splits. Has a far better second up record and is a winner at this track. Capable of landing a bit closer from the good draw and has to be respected.

4. Laws Of Indices (8) – $14
Jockey – Ben Melham 59kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham

Ridden on speed fist up in the Apollo Stakes and was a bit lacklustre to the line. Should be improved by that run and was good in the Spring, racing the Melbourne way of going. If he can repeat his Hong Kong Mile run he’s in with a chance but he has to be taken on trust.

5. Aegon (6) – $17
Jockey – Michael Dee 59kg
Trainer – Andrew Forsman 

Got back and saved ground along the inside first up in the CF Orr to finish just on the heels of the placegetters. Won three from four second up and was close up in the Cantala behind Alligator Blood in the Spring. Not out of it.

6. My Oberon (7) – $11
Jockey – Ethan Brown 59kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham

Former British galloper who erupted onto the scene with a brilliant win first up in the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley last prep. He then finished 1.8L off Alligator Blood in the Cantala and was spelled. Winner of four from six fresh who clearly has a stack of potential. May pay to watch the market. 

7. Mr Mozart (1) – $18
Jockey – Damien Oliver 59kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes


Should’ve won first up at Randwick in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes. Has been somewhat thrown in the deep end here, going straight to Group 1 WFA. Will roll forward from the inside draw and give a sight, but others look to have stronger form lines.

8. Nugget (2) – $6.00
Jockey – John Allen 59kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Gave Detonator Jack the fright of his life before winning three on the bounce. First go at Group 1 WFA last start in the CF Orr and he went super. Will get a good run behind the speed here and can figure in the finish once again.

Final Word

Just eight runners are set to do battle for Group 1 glory here in what will most likely become a tactical affair. All runners are under the $20 mark and their form suggests there isn’t a lot between them.

Despite the likelihood of a slow tempo, I’m happy to land on I’m Thunderstruck. He was good from the back first up in the CF Orr off a slow tempo and feel with that run under the belt, he might just have too much class for his rivals here.

The second elect in the market, Alligator Blood, looks the likely leader and main danger. His form has really turned a corner in the past 12 months and he’s had two solid hitouts in preparation for this. He’s a tough customer to get past and as already discussed, he’s got a big tactical advantage here.

Former Europeans Nugget and My Oberon command plenty of respect in the small field. Both have a brilliant turn of foot and are blessed with a stack of ability. And Doncaster winner, Mr Brightside, can’t be left out of contention after a brilliant return in the CF Orr.

Futurity Stakes TipLogo

1. I’m Thunderstruck – Win ($3.20)

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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.

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2022 Futurity Stakes Runner By Runner Preview, Odds & Tips

The Futurity Stakes is a 1400m WFA Group 1 race worth $750k, and is held on Blue Diamond Stakes Day at Caulfield. First run way back in 1898, the race is nowadays used by many horses as a lead up race to the $5m All Star Mile, held at Flemington in March. 

Some notable winners of the race have been Phar Lap (1930), Bernborough (1946), ‘The Goondiwindi Grey’ Gunsynd (1972) and Manikato who won the race on four occasions (1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983). This year’s race has brought together a small, but competitive field.

Looking at the market, Sportsbet has last start CF Orr winner, Tofane, favourite at $2.70 ahead of I’m Thunderstruck at $3.90. Mo’unga, who resumes from a spell here, is on the next line of betting at $4.80 and Sierra Sue is a $10 chance.


One thing we know with horse racing is that anything can happen and small fields can become very tactical affairs. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Futurity Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips. 

1. I’m Thunderstruck (7) – $3.90
Jockey – Jye McNeil 59kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr

Golden Eagle winner at the end of last prep who resumed in the CF Orr behind Tofane. As expected, he got back on that occasion and was never given much hope the way the track was playing. In saying that, he got to the line well and his late sectionals were strong. Will drift back from the gate again here, but providing the track is racing fair, he is more than capable of getting the chocolates second up.

2. Streets of Avalon (6) – $23
Jockey – Brett Prebble 59kg
Trainer – Shane Nichols

Was simply outsprinted fresh, when finishing 5th to Oakleigh Plate favourite Marabi. Steps up to the 7 furlongs here which is a positive and he likes Caulfield, but feel he may need one more run to show his best.

3. Mo’unga (4) – $4.80
Jockey – Jamie Kah 59kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham

Talented entire who resumes here and has an excellent fresh record (4:3-0-1). Brings some very strong form to the races here, and has had a couple of quiet trials in preparation for this. Has to be respected in a field like this, and could easily put pay to them if things fall his way.

4. Tofane (3) – $2.70F
Jockey – Mark Zahra 57kg
Trainer – Michael Moroney

Was good to our followers first up, when she blew her rivals away in the G1 CF Orr Stakes. Back to the scene of the crime here, and it’s hard to knock her on what she produced on that occasion. Two time winner second up, and is drawn to get a good run yet again. Hard to beat.

5. Sierra Sue (1) – $10
Jockey – John Allen 57kg
Trainer – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young


Resumed with a good effort in the CF Orr behind Tofane. She was strong to the line there and has a good second up record. Her win in the G1 Rupert Clarke last prep at this track/distance was excellent and she gets a chance to hit back hard here.

6. Turaath (2) – $12
Jockey – Damian Lane 57kg
Trainer – Maddie Raymond

Has had two runs back this time in, the latest of those, a strong 3rd to Marabi in the G2 Australia Stakes. Steps up to her pet trip (1400m) here, can race handier to the speed and should be ready to peak third up.

7. Extreme Flight (5) – $14
Jockey – Damien Thornton 55.5kg
Trainer – Anthony & Sam Freedman

3YO colt who resumed in the G2 Rubiton Stakes a fortnight ago. He got back and ran some of the best late sectionals on the day there. The step up to 1400m is a big tick and he is a winner at Caulfield. The big question is, whether or not he can measure up just yet at WFA, but going off his fresh run he won’t be far away from the action here.

8. Mr Mozart (8) – $46
Jockey – Damien Oliver 55.5kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes

Resumed in the same race as fellow 3YO colt Extreme Flight, where he was just fair. Has a poor record at Caulfield, but does get the services of D Oliver and the step up to 1400m looks in his favour. Has a win over Artorius last prep, which he would need to reproduce to be competitive here.

Final Word

A small, but tricky affair here where tactics will play a major role in the final result. Last start G1 winner Tofane is hard to look past, as she has clearly come back well and makes her own luck in running. I’m Thunderstruck was good against the pattern in that race won by Tofane, and will be looking for vengeance here, as will bonny mare Sierra Sue, who was also good in defeat on that occasion. 


The X-factor in the race is probably Mo’unga, who resumes here from a spell. He won the Winx Stakes first up last prep defeating eventual Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant and a host of other top line performers. Warrnambool trained mare, Tuuraath, will be ready to peak third up and 3YO colt Extreme Flight can easily measure up. 

With that said and done, I’ve settled on I’m Thunderstruck. As mentioned, his first up run was good against the pattern, and he should get a stronger tempo here, on a more even track. With those factors hopefully in his favour, he will be able to produce his customary turn of foot we’ve come to know him for and leave his rivals thunderstruck!

Best Futurity Stakes Tip: 1. I’m Thunderstruck – Win ($3.90)

If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Futurity Stakes page for all your punting needs!

*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Sportsbet.