A look at the Futurity Stakes history

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