Spillway is currently available at double figure 2015 Orr Stakes odds, but co-trainer David Hayes believes that the imported galloper is forward enough to score an upset win in the Group 1 event at Caulfield tomorrow.

Spillway was narrowly denied by Star Rolling first-up in the Orr Stakes last preparation. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Spillway was set for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2000m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he was unable to qualify for the race after finishing a luckless seventh in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 20 and failing to fire in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 4.

The Rail Link entire produced the best performance of his spring preparation when he finished a close second behind Star Rolling in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) first-up at Caulfield on August 16 and Hayes told Racing Ahead that he feels the five-year-old is capable of producing a similar performance in the 2015 Orr Stakes this weekend.

“He will just need a bit of luck from the 600 to the 300, but Michael (Walker) is good at getting runs,” Hayes said.

“His trials have been very good and his trackwork is probably better than it was last year.

“He will be the one at the big odds that will run well.

“He is wound up enough to win.

“He is going to be in the Australian Cup in two runs time and they all need to be a bit forward.

“I would say that if he is good enough he can win it on the score of fitness.

“If you asked me at the start of the spring I would have said that Spillway is a mile and a half horse, but I do think he is a middle distance horse and I reckon he will continue to surprise people with the way that he sprints.”

Spillway is set to progress to the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 28 after running in the Orr Stakes this weekend before he gets the chance to score a maiden win at Group 1 level in the Australian Cup at Flemington on March 14.

He was included in the nominations for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) that were released earlier this week, but he is also a chance of dropping back in trip for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).

Hayes is chasing his first win in the Orr Stakes since he took out the 1991 edition of the race with Planet Ruler and he is also has Petrology, who is available at Orr Stakes odds of $6.50, in the race.