Jockey Craig Williams is prepared to forgive the disappointing first-up performance of Avienus as she heads into the Group One Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.The five-year-old mare is backing up in Saturday's 1400m weight-for-age feature after finishing last when favourite in last week's The Big Six (1200m) at Flemington.Williams said the mare raced flat at Flemington but was expecting she would be more competitive in the Futurity over the slightly longer trip.Avienus is a proven Group One perform

Jockey Craig Williams is prepared to forgive the disappointing first-up performance of Avienus as she heads into the Group One Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.

The five-year-old mare is backing up in Saturday's 1400m weight-for-age feature after finishing last when favourite in last week's The Big Six (1200m) at Flemington.

Williams said the mare raced flat at Flemington but was expecting she would be more competitive in the Futurity over the slightly longer trip.

Avienus is a proven Group One performer and last spring finished sixth to More Joyous in the Toorak Hcp (1600m) at Caulfield and sixth to So You Think in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

"She was disappointing first-up but I expect her to improve," Williams said.

"She has come back a lot stronger this preparation and my feeling after trialling her earlier this month was that she probably needed a run or trial to get her going.

"I think she might have just taken that run last week to get competitive."

Avienus has been placed at two of her three second-up runs and notably has won and been placed three times from five starts at 1400 metres.

Trained by Mark Webb, Avienus is at $51 with TAB Sportsbet to cause an upset in the Futurity which More Joyous dominates as $1.50 favourite.

Whobegotyou is the best-backed runner with TAB Sportsbet, firming from $7.50 to $6 following the declaration of the field on Wednesday.

Ortensia ($9) is the only other runner under double figures.

Doubtful Jack ($12) is the representative for trainer Peter Moody who won the race last year with Typhoon Tracy.

Two weeks ago Doubtful Jack was unlucky not to get closer to Typhoon Tracy when fifth in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m).

"His run was tremendous," Moody said.

"I thought Craig (Newitt) took the wrong option going up inside Danzylum. If he comes outside of him and Typhoon Tracy I thought he was right in the race."

Doubtful Jack was beaten 3-1/2 lengths.

"He will improve," Moody said.