Futurity Stakes Tips - Mr Brightside to claim another 1400m Caulfield Group 1 win with victory in the Futurity Stakes

Adam Cusworth

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Last updated: 19 Feb 2025

Adam Cusworth 19 Feb 2025

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Mr Brightside is the favorite after a strong runner-up performance.
I Wish I Win poses a threat despite returning from injury.
Godolphin's Tom Kitten and Pericles could challenge, with Pericles offering value.

Expired

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 24: Craig Williams riding Mr Brightside winning Race 7, the Lamaro's Hotel Futurity Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Caulfield Racecourse on February 24, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

The Futurity Stakes will be held on Saturday February 22 and is the first of three Group 1 races at Caulfield on Saturday.

2025 Futurity Stakes Preview
2025 Futurity Stakes Best Bet
2025 Futurity Stakes Value Bet

Here is our preview of the action

2025 Futurity Stakes Preview

Mr Brightside will be out to make it back to back wins in this race and heads in as favourite after resuming with a runner-up performance behind Another Wil in the CF Orr Stakes at the track and trip.

The winner of 18 races, including five of seven at the track and trip, was forced to work early from the gate before being grabbed late. He enjoyed a huge gap on the rest of the field.

The Team Hayes-trained galloper draws wide again and Craig Williams might have to sit in the three-wide position up front.

Four other rivals come out of the CF Orr, including the Caulfield Guineas (1600m), winner, Private Life. He can be an improver at his second run but has nearly six-lenghts to make up. Hard to make a case for Super Smink, Freedom Rally and Pinstriped, who were 7th, 8th and 9th respectively.

I Wish I Win is seen as the danger to Mr Brightside in the market first up after pulling up lame when last in the 2024 Everest (1200m). He usually resumes over shorter trips but did appear fresh in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) in 2023 when 3rd behind Mr Brightside. He will enjoy a solid tempo ahead of him but the query is his lack of a run.

Godolphin are well represented by Tom Kitten and Pericles. Both are resuming. Tom Kitten was a fresh winner last spring when returning as a gelding before placing in the Golden Eagle (1500m) later on. He was a few lengths off the likes of Ceolwulf and Pride Of Jenni in the King Charles Stakes (1600m).

Pericles was 3rd in the PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) when resuming last year at Caulfield and should be competitive but I suspect he is a tier below Mr Brightside.

Evaporate represents a bit of X-factor and was solid when resuming with an unlucky 3rd against his own age group in the Autumn Stakes. He was a narrow 3rd behind Private Life in a Caulfield Guineas that seemed to play into the hands of the leaders last year.

Light Infantry Man is a potential blowout runner that should have some residual fitness after claiming the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) last December. Place Du Carrousel and Freedom Rally are rough hopes.

2025 Futurity Stakes Best Bet

Mr Brightside was a slight drifter after the barrier draw on Wednesday but I don't see that being a major issue, unless we see a situation at Caulfield where the inside is on fire. Expect Craig Williams not to panic and either slot in forward of midfield or sit three-wide up front. There doesn't look to be major loads of pace in this race and I suspect that the seven-year-old will cruise to a comfortable win.

2025 Futurity Stakes Value Bet

Outside of Mr Brightside, this doesn't look to be a vintage edition of the Futurity and a horse such as Pericles can stick on well to run a drum. He maps well for this and can either lead or box seat from barrier 1. First up run last spring was solid when 3rd at the track and trip, while he was solid when taking out a recent trial at Randwick. Expect him to stick on for some time in the straight.

Verdict

Futurity Stakes

Futurity Stakes Tips

Mr Brightside

Best Bet

@1/1 - 1 Unit

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Pericles

Best Value

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