Racing: Winks seeks Futurity Stakes upset

MELBOURNE - Jockey James Winks, who nailed one of the biggest weight-for-age upsets in recent times on Douro Valley, is hoping to repeat the dose in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday on another Danny O'Brien-trained galloper.

Barbaricus has opened at $81 with TAB Sportsbet after a field of just six, spearheaded by three-time Group One-winning mare Typhoon Tracy, accepted yesterday for the group one feature over 1600m.

Winks won the 2008 Yalumba Stakes on Douro Valley who was the rank outsider at $41 in a field of seven and led all the way.

Barbaricus has had two conditioning runs since injuring a tendon last year.

Last start he carried 60kg and pleased Winks with the way he battled strongly to the line, albeit five lengths from the winner Stillme, in the Rosier Commercial Furniture Handicap (1500m) at Moonee Valley.

"It was a good run the other day with a big weight and he kept getting to the line," Winks said.

"He is getting there and I expect him to do something on Saturday."

Barbaricus will back up seven days after the 1600m Futurity in the Australian Cup (2000m) if he runs well on Saturday.

"I think we will see a good enough run from him," Winks said.

"A first-three finish would be a good result.

"At level weights this week will probably help him and he is going well on the track."

Barbaricus is a class act at his best and was a gut-busting third to All The Good in the 2008 Caulfield Cup before a nose second to Theseo in the Mackinnon Stakes.

He campaigned in Dubai last February but at his second run at Nad Al Sheba pulled up with a respiratory infection and an injured tendon.

The rehabilitation has been slow but deliberate, with the gelding doing a lot of work on a water walker and based much of the time at O'Brien's newly established Barwon Heads training complex.

The 5-year-old son of Lion Hunter has won three of his 20 starts but has also been placed a further nine times with earnings just shy of A$600,000.

Typhoon Tracy, as the last-start first-up winner of the group one Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, dominates the Futurity market at $1.60.

Another triple group one winner, Sniper's Bullet, and Hong Kong group one placegetter Dao Dao share the second line at $5.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Kilmore Cup winner Joku, who is making his debut at weight-for-age, is at $10 and Central Districts galloper Tavistock, called Lord Tavistock in Australia, is at $18.

Typhoon Tracy has drawn the outside barrier, Lord Tavistock, five, Sniper's Bullet, four, Dao Dao, three, Barbaricus, two, and Kilmore Cup winner Joku, the rails.

Owner Lloyd Williams elected not to accept with exciting 3-year-old Linton, who may instead head to next month's Australian Guineas.

- AAP