Ciaron Maher‘s Another Wil delivered a thrilling performance to claim the 2025 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield, denying Mr Brightside a historic back-to-back victory in the season-opening Group 1.
2025 CF Orr Stakes winner Another Wil was too good late for Mr Brightside. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Street Boss gelding, ridden to perfection by Jamie Melham, settled midfield before unleashing a powerful finish to overhaul the reigning champion in a thrilling photo finish.
Mr Brightside, the pre-race favourite, looked poised for victory as he hit the front with 250 meters to go, but Another Wil responded with a determined surge to snatch victory by the narrowest of margins with Steparty third.
“He’s a horse that’s always shown a lot of ability, and it’s great to see him deliver on the big stage,” Maher said after the race. “Jamie gave him a perfect ride, and he showed his class in the final stages. We’ve always had a lot of faith in him, and it’s fantastic to see him get his Group 1 win.”
The victory marks a significant milestone for Another Wil, who has consistently shown glimpses of his talent. His runner-up finish in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last spring highlighted his potential, and this first-up Group 1 triumph confirms his status as a top-class performer.
With the CF Orr Stakes now under his belt, Maher has indicated that Another Wil will likely target the Futurity Stakes over the same course and distance on February 22nd. Another Wil is currently the $3.20 favourite in pre-field Futurity Stakes betting online at Ladbrokes, while Mr Brightside is a close second at $3.30.
Looking further ahead, Another Wil could be a contender for the Australian Cup over 2000m at Flemington. However, he is currently a more generous $11 quote for that prestigious race.
The 2025 CF Orr Stakes provided a thrilling start to the autumn carnival, showcasing the brilliance of Another Wil and setting the stage for exciting racing to come.
2025 CF Orr Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | ANOTHER WIL | Ciaron Maher | Ms Jamie Melham | 3 | 59kg | $3.30 | |||
| 2 | 1 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 0.35L | 8 | 59kg | $2.60F | ||
| 3 | 4 | STEPARTY | Paul Preusker | Blaike McDougall | 5.1L | 4 | 59kg | $14 | ||
| 4 | 10 | PRIVATE LIFE | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 5.5L | 1 | 55.5kg | $9 | ||
| 5 | 8 | SEMANA | Ciaron Maher | Thomas Stockdale | 6L | 9 | 57kg | $41 | ||
| 6 | 2 | SOUTHPORT TYCOON | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 6.4L | 2 | 59kg | $13 | ||
| 7 | 9 | SUPER SMINK | Daniel Morton | John Allen | 6.7L | 5 | 57kg | $51 | ||
| 8 | 6 | FREEDOM RALLY | Tony Gollan | Ethan Brown | 7.16L | 6 | 59kg | $61 | ||
| 9 | 3 | PINSTRIPED | Enver Jusufovic | Ben Allen | 7.91L | 10 | 59kg | $26 | ||
| 10 | 7 | SCHWARZ | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Blake Shinn | 8.01L | 7 | 59kg | $8.50 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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