Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir has accepted with three runners, Tosen Stardom, Humidor and Brave Smash, for the Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Tosen Stardom, above, is one of 3 Darren Weir trained horses in the 2018 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Tosen Stardom, above, is one of 3 Darren Weir trained horses in the 2018 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Weir had indicated early in the week that Tosen Stardom might be doubtful of running in the Futurity Stakes after taking longer than expected to recover from a tough first up run when eleventh to Hartnell in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 10.

“He’s alright now but it’s obviously not the ideal way to start a preparation,” Weir told RSN927’s Racing Pulse.

“He’ll be fine but we’ll just poke around with him and probably change plans a bit now and maybe go to the Blamey (Stakes) to give him some time to get over the run and then head up to Sydney for the Carnival.”

Tosen Stardom has drawn barrier five in the eleven horse final field for the Futurity Stakes with apprentice Ben Allen booked to ride.

Last year’s Australian Cup winner Humidor will kick off his 2018 Autumn Carnival campaign in the Futurity Stakes with Damian Lane in the saddle and has drawn nicely at barrier two while Brave Smash has drawn out wide at nine for Craig Williams.

Humidor had mixed results during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival but did manage to win at Group 1 level when he beat Hartnell in the $750,000 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in September.

Then later in the Carnival Humidor pushed Winx to the limit when half a length second to the mighty mare in the Group 1 $3m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley before finishing down the track when nineteenth to Rekindling in the Group 1 $6.25m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.

Trainer Mick Price is lining his three year old Mighty Boss up against the older weight for age horses again and the Not A Single Doubt colt has drawn nicely at barrier three with Michael Walker retaining the mount.

Walker was aboard Mighty Boss when he scored an upside win at $101 in the 2017 Group 1 $2m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield and also partnered the colt for a first up seventh to Hartnell in the C.F. Orr Stakes.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.