Australia’s elite racing season gallops into action at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday with the prestigious CF Orr Stakes 2024, boasting a star-studded field vying for the $750,000 prize.
Mr Brightside is firm favourite to salute fresh in the 2024 C.F. Orr Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The reigning All-Star Mile champion, Mr Brightside, heads the pack as the short favourite, chasing his fifth Group 1 victory.
The six-year-old, known for his brilliant performances at weight-for-age and impressive $11.47 million earnings, looks primed for victory at his beloved Caulfield track. With Craig Williams onboard again, he jumps from barrier four, seeking revenge for his fifth-place finish in the Orr last year when the race ran at Sandown.
Mr Brightside boasts an impressive record at Caulfield, having triumphed three out of four times, including a dominant win in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes last season first-up. He continued his winning streak with the Group 1 Memsie – Makybe Diva double, but faced frustrating runner-up finishes in the spring, most notably losing the coveted Cox Plate by a whisker.
With a small field and a first-up advantage at his favourite track, Mr Brightside justifies his favouritism, currently offered at $2.05 through Ladbrokes.
He faces stiff competition from Veight ($5.50), the early market mover trained for Tony & Calvin McEvoy. This progressive Grunt colt, ridden by Damian Lane, looks to repeat the three-year-old victory streak in the Orr after Jacquinot last autumn.
Already a four-time winner, Veight impressed fresh with a narrow win in the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley and boasts strong Caulfield form with a Group 3 win and a Caulfield Guineas second-place finish over the mile last campaign.
Other major contenders include Pride Of Jenni ($6.50), seeking to extend her back-to-back Group 1 winning streak after dominating the Empire Rose Stakes – Champions Mile double back in the spring, and the James Cummings-trained Pericles ($7.50), a 1400m specialist boasting a near-perfect record at the Orr distance.
With a mix of fresh horses and proven performers, the 2024 CF Orr Stakes promises an exciting start to the racing season.
Don’t miss the action on Saturday as these thoroughbred champions battle it out for Group 1 glory at Caulfield.
2024 C.F. Orr Stakes Field & Barriers
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11x111222x | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 4 | 59kg | 118 | ||
| 2 | 1292x1132x | PERICLES | James Cummings | Mark Zahra | 5 | 59kg | 109 | ||
| 3 | 17x128x301 | MUNHAMEK (GB) | Nick Ryan | Blake Shinn | 9 | 59kg | 106 | ||
| 4 | 0113×75144 | BUSTLER | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | 6 | 59kg | 107 | ||
| 5 | 9x901410x3 | BUFFALO RIVER (USA) | Michael Moroney | Ms Celine Gaudray (a) | 1 | 59kg | 100 | ||
| 6 | x578x17601 | AYRTON (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Ms Jamie Kah | 8 | 59kg | 104 | ||
| 7 | 16Px52021x | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | Michael Dee | 7 | 57kg | 114 | ||
| 8 | 298x62611x | PRIDE OF JENNI | Ciaron Maher | Declan Bates | 3 | 57kg | 115 | ||
| 9 | 114x1525x1 | VEIGHT | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Damian Lane | 2 | 55.5kg | 104 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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