Futurity Stakes preview & betting strategy | February 25, 2023

One of the feature events out of Sandown on Saturday afternoon is the Group 1 Futurity Stakes, where a strong field of eight horses have accepted. Group 1 superstars I’m Thunderstruck and Alligator Blood are the featured acts, but Mr Brightside and up-and-comer Nugget will be looking to knock the two fancied runners off their perches. With mares winning three of the past four editions of the Futurity, it is a field full of boys for 2023.

2023 Futurity Stakes odds

There is no surprise that Alligator Blood and I’m Thunderstruck head the markets for the Futurity, with online bookmakers quoting the pair as $3.60 equal favourites. Mr Brightside ($5) and Nugget ($6) are the clear value runners in the race if the two favourites show any chinks in the armour. All four other runners are quoted at $10 or more for the Group 1.

2023 Futurity Stakes speedmap

The speedmap looks pretty straightforward in this year’s Futurity, with the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Alligator Blood looking to gain an uncontested lead, with only Mr Mozart from barrier one set to provide any form of competition for early supremacy. Look for Mr Brightside and Nugget to settle on their heels whilst I’m Thunderstruck and My Oberon will be looking to make their runs from the rear of the eight-horse field.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2023 Futurity Stakes.

Futurity Stakes preview & form

Mr Brightside could not have been any more impressive upon return despite finishing fifth in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes on February 11. In a race that was simply not suited for him considering he settled so far back, the five-year-old gelding flew home to finish within in a length of the eventual winner Jacquinot and was within a half-length of Nugget and I’m Thunderstruck who he meets again. With two wins from three second-up runs, Mr Brightside clearly enjoys getting a run under his belt and with a run in the All-Star Mile expected third-up, Ben & JD Hayes will be hopeful he heads there with a win behind him.

Despite not having the great second-up record (4: 1-0-1), I’m Thunderstruck showed plenty of tenacity first-up in the C.F. Orr to suggest he will go close to winning here. The Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)-trained superstar got the better of co-favourite Alligator Blood in the Makybe Diva Stakes when second-up in the spring and looks set to get the better of him once again. He looks set to gain a perfect run in transit behind Mr Brightside and if he gets a genuine tempo, there is no reason why I’m Thunderstruck cannot come out and put his rivals away with distain.

Outside of our top two, we anticipate only Nugget and Alligator Blood can take out the Group 1 Futurity, with the rest of the field seemingly going to struggle against this calibre of horse flesh or wanting further than the 1400m.

2023 Futurity Stakes selections & best bets

• 3

  MR BRIGHTSIDE

• 1

  I’M THUNDERSTRUCK

• 8

  NUGGET

• 2

  ALLIGATOR BLOOD

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