The Futurity Stakes is one of three Group 1 features on Neds Blue Diamond Stakes Race Day at Caulfield on Saturday and has attracted a small but classy field of eight.
The 1400m $500,000 weight for age event has a mixture of quality Group 1 performers as well as rising stars and we will see the Kiwi super star Melody Belle back on Australian soil.
Melody Belle is set to face some tough opposition from veteran Group 1 performer Black Heart Bart, the Chris Waller trained Kolding while the Anthony Freedman trained three year old Super Seth will add a lot of extra interest in the race.
We have analysed the entire field and our complete 2020 Futurity Stakes tips can be found below!
Kolding
The Chris Waller trained Kolding ended the 2019 Spring Carnival with a boom with wins in the Group 1 Epsom (1600m) at Randwick and in the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill and has had one run back from a break for a tidy fourth in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes over 1200m at Randwick on February 1. Kolding is stepping out in weight for age for the first time but he is a quality galloper and the step up to the 1400m will be right up his alley at this stage of his preparation. He can’t be underestimated.
Black Heart Bart
Nine year old Black Heart Bart might be getting a bit long in the tooth but he still has plenty to offer at this level. Black Heart Bart was the winner of the 2017 Futurity Stakes and he was an upset winner at $101 in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes over 1800m at Caulfield during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival. Another Group 1 win at long odds wouldn’t surprise.
Streets Of Avalon
Streets Of Avalon has been racing okay in much weaker class than he is up against in the Futurity Stakes and it is hard to see him threatening on his latest second in a 1400m Flemington Handicap last Saturday.
Wild Planet
Wild Planet looks well out of his class here. The Team Hawkes trained four year old has had one run back from a long spell for a seventh in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield two weeks ago and better suited in something easier.
Kazio
Kazio looks to be well out of his depth here at weight for age and is coming off a last start third in a 1600m BenchMark 90 Handicap at Caulfield on January 25.
Cape Of Good Hope
European import Cape Of Good Hope showed his class during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival with a win in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield. The Lindsay Park trained import is yet to win under 1500m but will wear the blinkers for the first time and it wouldn’t surprise to see him sprint well while fresh.
Melody Belle
Kiwi mare Melody Belle is pure class as her record reads with ten Group 1 wins from twenty-six starts. The Jamie Richards trained mare performed to her high standard during the 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington with a win in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) followed by a second in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m). Melody Belle is a tough Group 1 performer and has strong claims to add another Group 1 win to her tally.
Super Seth
The Anthony Freedman trained Super Seth showed his will to win when he ran down Alligator Blood to claim a nose victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival. Super Seth has returned for the Autumn in great style with a first up win in the 1200m Group 3 Manfred Stakes at Caulfield on February and as a three year old will get a nice weight advantage over the older rivals under the weight for age scale. Expect a bold showing.
Futurity Stakes Tip
Melody Belle at $2.80
