The 2011 Futurity Stakes is shaping up as a scintillating showdown between two of Australian racing’s top mares with reigning Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy set to defend her crown against Gai Waterhouse’s More Joyous.
Typhoon Tracy showed she still had the grit and glitz to win at elite level on Saturday when the Red Ransom five-year-old dug deep to score successive CF Orr Stakes wins at Caulfield.
Holding off a gallant late charge by Heart Of Dreams, Typhoon Tracy joined a select list of turf champions as one of only four horses to score multiple CF Orr Stakes along with triple-winners Manikato and Vo Rogue and dual champion Lord.
Posting her sixth Group 1 victory from her stunning 20 start career to date, Typhoon Tracy is now on target to add back-to-back wins in the $500,000 Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) on Blue Diamond Stakes Day February 26 to her name.
But punters can bet that Waterhouse and her Sydney mare More Joyous will be out in force to stop the Typhoon in the 2011 Futurity Stakes.
More Than Ready four-year-old More Joyous was ultra impressive at Randwick on Saturday, coasting to a brilliant 2 ½ length first-up win in the Group 2 Breeders Classic (1200m).
Making her rivals look second class on Saturday, More Joyous set a new race record in the Breeders Classic clocking a blistering 1:08.6 second win.
A triple Group 1 winner having seen success in the 2009 Flight Stakes as well as winning the 2010 George Main Stakes and Toorak Handicap back-to-back last spring, More Joyous will be bringing some stiff competition Typhoon Tracy’s way come Blue Diamond Stakes Day.
“Fourteen hundred metres at weight-for-age will suite her perfectly,” Waterhouse said. “Typhoon Tracy is a great mare. It’ll be a great race.”
More Joyous’ stablemate, up-and-coming filly More Strawberries, will resume in the $100,000 Listed Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill this Saturday February 19 after being scratched from the Light Fingers Stakes field last Saturday.
Nominations for the 2011 Futurity Stakes close on February 21 followed by the final field of acceptors on February 23.
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