Dual Group 1 winner Scales Of Justice remains a firm favourite in the betting for the Group 1 $500,000 Neds C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Scales Of Justice, above, is the firm favourite for the 2020 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Scales Of Justice heads the market order at $2.90 at Ladbrokes.com.au and trainer Lindsey Smith said that the last start Australia Stakes winner is working and looking the best he has all through his career.
“I see all his signs where he is going as good as I have ever had him,” Smith told TABradio.
“When he is like that he takes that to the races so that puts him in a good area to try and win a Group 1.”
“He has a great action when he is on song and he is a beast of a horse and that action of his looks enormous and he looks fantastic.”
Scales Of Justice overpowered his rivals to win the Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival over the same course and distance as the C.F. Orr Stakes and Smith is going into Sarturday’s weight for age contest with more confidence this time around.
“I think he is a tad better than then (Memsie Stakes win). Then I was hoping,” Smith said.
“He is in a good spot and is still in his right distance area with the 1400m, the draw seems to have gone his way again so it would be good to get another Group 1 under his belt.”
Scales Of Justice had one more Spring Carnival run after the Memsie Stakes for a fifth to Gatting in the Group 1 $750,000 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 14.
The seven year old resumed from a break in great order the score a first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 Mortimer Petroleum Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on January 24 and Smith said that it only took a couple of days for him pick up after that run.
“He has pulled up good since his last run,” Smith said.
“Two days after I knew he would be right to race again, he gives you that body language.”
Scales Of Justice is also nominated for the $5m The All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on March 14 and Smith is also hopeful of being selected to run in a slot for the $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick during the 2020 Sydney Spring Carnival.
“If he wins on Saturday he will go to The All-Star Mile and if he wins one of them, then surely someone will come knocking (for The Everest Slot),” Smith said.
“His fresh form over 1200m is dynamite and he can run on a wet track so I wouldn’t think he would be the worst horse to be in the race.”
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained Hey Doc finished second to Scales Of Justice in the Australia Stakes and is on the second line of betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the C.F. Stakes at $5.50 ahead of the three year old colt Alabama Express at $8.50 and Group 1 winners Begood Toya Mother at $9 and Fierce Impact at $9.50.
