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Brett Davis was introduced to Australian Racing by his father back in the early 1980’s when his family became involved in formulating “Thoroughbred Racing Syndications”. Brett worked from 1995 as a Professional Form Analysts and Race Broadcaster with an array of companies throughout most parts of the Australia Racing industry. He currently resides in Adelaide, his hometown in Australia, where he is Chief Thoroughbred Race Caller and Form Analyst for Tabcorp / SkyChannel / RadioTAB. Brett Davis also spent 2 years with the Singapore Turf Club and 13 Racing Seasons with the Hong Kong Jockey Club between 2006 to 2019 as a leading Form Analyst / Race Caller and was the HKJC Chief Race Caller from 2014, calling the last 5 Hong Kong International (Turf World Championships) race meetings and over 50 G1 races. Brett has immense passion for Australian Racing both personally and professionally. With his diverse knowledge and long standing industry relations he’s a valuable asset to racing and it’s enthusiasts. |
Expert Column for Futurity Stakes Day (S1) (Brett Davis)
S1-1 Mannerism Stakes
GRINZINGER BELLE is an established front running mare with the right credentials to lead this contest for a very long way. Excuses were justified for her first up effort at Flemington in the G1 Roses Stakes after she was forced to work hard through the early part. With minimal opposition for speed here, regular jockey Damien Lane should be no risk of jumping straight to the front, and dictating terms thereafter and throughout.
SEMANA has done the majority of her racing in Sydney and is well placed coming back to mares company. She’s run multiple minor placings at the highest of level and as the ratings suggest is clearly the horse to beat. Her fifth placing recently in the G1 C.F. Orr Stakes was the perfect preparation to this event, and if the rain happens to fall, she’ll be almost a certainty.
SO GLAMOROUS boast an excellent record at Caulfield and should be cherry ripe going in to this contest second up from a nine week spell. However, with regular jockey Damien Lane deciding to stick with GRINZINGER BELLE she’ll need to improve on her effort first up to win. Nonetheless, she remains on an upward spiral with her best racing still ahead
and can be certainly entertained.
COEUR VOLANTE hasn’t had a great deal of racing over the past six months but is undefeated at Caulfield over 1400m. The draw looks tricky on paper but the option to roll forward early on may come into play, now she’s second up. She proved in the spring that she’s talented enough to deal with this calibre of event so I’d be expecting her to run a strong competitive race.
ETERNAL FLAME is the query runner after being sidelined with health issues over the past ten months. She’s a big brute of a girl with an engine to match but a lack of racing is a concern against this quality bunch. She adores a firm track and shall probably settle back but I still recommend including her in exotics.
SELECTIONS: 2. GRINZINGER BELLE, 4. SEMANA, 8. SO GLAMOROUS, 6. COEUR VOLANTE & 3. ETERNAL FLAME
1ST DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S1-1: Multiple – 2. GRINZINGER BELLE & 4. SEMANA
S1-2: Multiple – 1. MR BRIGHTSIDE & 2. I WISH I WIN
S1-2 Futurity Stakes
MR BRIGHTSIDE, although defeated first up by ANOTHER WIL, was absolutely brilliant in the G1 C.F. Orr Stakes over 1400m and is expected to quickly atone. You’ll be forced to take prohibitive odds about one of Australia’s great champions but it’ll be worth the wait, and watch, as he attempts to land G1 win number nine.
In all reality, there appears only the one genuine threat in I WISH I WIN, and he hasn’t raced for more than three months after finishing near the tail of the field in the G1 The Everest in October last year. I WISH I WIN is an outstanding galloper in his own right and a dual G1 winner from fourteen career attempts. He’s being aimed at the slightly longer races this campaign which shall no doubt end up a successful and justified decision. It’ll be fascinating to see what he can produce first up when asked to quicken down the stretch, because we all know he’s one of the fastest in the country over the final 400m of any event.
TOM KITTEN was super competitive at the highest level during the Sydney spring and has always possessed something special. With two satisfying Warwick Farm barrier trials under his belt, he’s ready to go back to the races and commence his autumn campaign. He’s a previous winner on two occasions first up and it would not surprise at all to see him ping with pure freshness today.
EVAPORATE is well out of his depth you’d think on what he’s done so far but he does have youth and weight on his side. The Hayes team have never been hesitant about challenging their young gun 3YO’s when the time is right and that appears the exact case here. His first up third in the G2 Autumn Stakes was a very solid effort in defeat so be weary of completely leaving him out.
LIGHT INFANTRY MAN is a former French galloper that we haven’t seen the best of in Australia yet despite the fact he’s already won a G1 event. He’s likely be taken back through the initial stages of this event, because he’ll be looking further ground, but it’s expected he’ll find the line solidly and with great power towards the end.
SELECTIONS: 1. MR BRIGHTSIDE, 2. I WISH I WIN, 4. TOM KITTEN, 11. EVAPORATE & 5. LIGHT INFANTRY MAN
2ND DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S1-2: Multiple – 1. MR BRIGHTSIDE & 2. I WISH I WIN
S1-3: Multiple – 1. FIELD OF PLAY & 14. CHERISH ME
DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-2:
Banker – 1. MR BRIGHTSIDE
Selections – 2. I WISH I WIN, 4. TOM KITTEN, 11. EVAPORATE & 5. LIGHT INFANTRY MAN
S1-3:
Banker – 1. FIELD OF PLAY
Selections – 14. CHERISH ME, 9. PALM ANGEL, 5. DEVIL NIGHT & 11. MY GLADIOLA
S1-3 Blue Diamond Stakes
FIELD OF PLAY is the horse to beat in this year’s edition of the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes after a faultless display in the traditional lead up event over the 1100m. In the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude, for the colts and geldings, he charged out of the gates with purpose to position handy in the run before overpowering the leaders after turning for home. After drawing the identical barrier in gate five at Tuesday’s official barrier draw his chances have been further enhanced and the up in distance to 1200m can only complementing his winning prospects.
CHERISH ME won her only start in the Geelong Diamond Stakes back in early January after giving most of the opposition a head start. She settled back early stages whilst finding her feet before delivering an electrifying turn of foot down the home straight to win. A recent jump out win at Cranbourne under race day rider Jamie Melham has completed her lead up preparation ideally, and it’s expected she’ll dually measure up on the big stage.
PALM ANGEL has endured a solid preparation and highly experienced campaign leading into this G1 blue ribbon event which began in a Mornington jump out in October 2024. Since then, she’s carried herself to victory on two occasions at Caulfield with her latest win a slashing victory from just forward of mid-field. It’s anticipated there’ll be a hectic pace on throughout the first half, which should create a race pattern she adores.
DEVIL NIGHT shouldn’t be underestimated on his debut runner’s up performance behind FIELD OF PLAY and is capable of improving enough to win. He’d only been involved in two well-spaced barrier trials in Sydney before relocating to Melbourne and the rise in distance to 1200m is bound to suit. He possesses solid gate speed, has again draw favourably in barrier two and has a lovely grass cutter action when asked to fully let down.
MY GLADIOLA has an abundance of early pace which was fully on display last start in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude for the filly’s. Unfortunately for connections, she’ll be forced to again go hammer and tong throughout after drawing poorly out wide in barrier eleven. That’ll make her task of holding off the hard finishers challenging at the business end, but if she gets across easy then it could end up a different scenario.
SELECTIONS: 1. FIELD OF PLAY, 14. CHERISH ME, 9. PALM ANGEL, 5. DEVIL NIGHT & 11. MY GLADIOLA
3RD DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S1-3: Multiple – 1. FIELD OF PLAY & 14. CHERISH ME
S1-4: Multiple – 5. REY MAGNERIO & 2. ESTRIELLA
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-3: Multiple – 1. FIELD OF PLAY, 14. CHERISH ME & 9. PALM ANGEL
S1-4: Multiple – 5. REY MAGNERIO, 2. ESTRIELLA & 7. JIMMYSSTAR
S1-5: Multiple – 8. DASHING DUCHESS, 10. SHAIYHAR & 1. DENY KNOWLEDGE
S1-4 Oakleigh Plate
REY MAGNERIO returned to racing with a bang in the G2 Rubiton Stakes after covering ground, whilst racing without cover, for a large portion of the event. His only attempt at G1 level was in this event last year but he was physical immature and unable to fully cope with demands of a G1 race. Fast forward to now, and seems likely that he’s perfectly poised to again tackle the ultimate challenge of a G1, and I won’t be surprised to see him standing up proudly when they judge calls a stop.
ESTRIELLA is a powerfully built hard running mare that can potentially run this top class field into the ground. She won the G2 Caulfield Sprint over 1000m in October last year in exactly that fashion and in the process fended off the late challenge from RAY MAGNERIO. Her first up record is excellent, along with her record at this track, and a hard closing third place in a recent trial behind GLOWING EMPIRE caught the eye.
JIMMYSSTAR has only been defeated first up on one occasion in his entire career and therefore must be highly respected. His second placing behind ANOTHER WIL in the G2 The Damien Oliver Handicap last November
is an outstanding form reference and suggested he’s a G1 winner in the waiting. The sharpness of the 1100m at Caulfield might be the slightest of queries but it didn’t stop him winning at his only previous attempt.
ARABIAN SUMMER has further improved following her strong win in the Magic Millions National over 1050m at Doomben last year and has been well tried in early markets to win. Her recent win in the G3 Kevin Hayes Stakes is the reason for that and she gets in nicely here at the weights. She’s loaded with upside and possesses a big turn of foot but she’s yet to take on a race of this quality and depth.
PRAIRIE FLOWER has always been a rung or two below the top echelon of sprinters going around but she’s never been in better form than she is right now. The pace shall be on which can play into her hands and she’ll go around at a big price for exotic plays. She likes to race conservative during the initial part of an event but watch out for her late when she fully let’s fly.
SELECTIONS: 5. REY MAGNERIO, 2. ESTRIELLA, 7. JIMMYSSTAR, 16. ARABIAN SUMMER & 13. PRAIRIE FLOWER
4TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S1-4: Multiple – 5. REY MAGNERIO & 2. ESTRIELLA
S1-5: Multiple – 8. DASHING DUCHESS & 10. SHAIYHAR
S1-5 Victoria Gold Cup
DASHING DUCHESS is quality mare that can continue to build on her already excellent record this campaign after a fabulous run first up in the G3 JRA Plate. She has all the makings of high calibre stayer going forward and the rise in trip to the 2000m today reads grand. Jamie Melham jumps back aboard and it’s expected they’ll settle just off speed before launching their run in the straight.
SHAIYHAR has returned to form during the recent stages of this preparation and is a very capable animal when right. Craig Williams has been able to extract two excellent performances from him recently so he must be kept safe, despite drawing the wide and awkward gate. His record at Caulfield has been a little hit miss because he prefers the big spacious tracks, but he’s impossible to oppose.
DENY KNOWLEDGE is the proven class in the event with a G1 victory registered in the Might And Power last campaign. She’s got the weight to shoulder, but draws well in gate one, and trialled up nicely in a recent Cranbourne hit out. She maps to cross and lead which puts her in control and from there she’ll be quite difficult to pass.
SMOKIN’ ROMANS is also first up and another G1 winning performer at his best. With the inside barrier to exit from he’ll be gifted the run of the race and generally loves to fight hard at the business end. His first up record is only fair, and there are other races for him to win, but he’s too classy to take on and must be given his due respect.
POSITIVITY won the G3 Foundation Cup over this course and trip in September last year and on that performance alone should be considered. She’s undefeated second up and is tactically versatile, so there’ll be decisions in the run for her jockey to make. She was good first up in a race where the tempo was against so I’d be keeping her safe just in case.
SELECTIONS: 8. DASHING DUCHESS, 10. SHAIYHAR, 1. DENY KNOWLEDGE, 2. SMOKIN’ ROMANS & 7. POSITIVITY
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