Caulfield Racecourse plays host to the first Group 1 of the year on Saturday, the $750,000 C.F. Orr Stakes.
The 1400m feature is headlined by multiple Group 1 winner Mr Brightside, returning for the first time since running second to Saturday’s rival, Princess Jenni, in the Champions Mile at Flemington last year.
Last-start Australia Stakes winner Veight should have plenty of admirers in his return to the top level, alongside the Godolphin-trained Pericles in his first run back since a narrow defeat in the Golden Eagle.
There’s a genuine case to be made for a few in this year’s small field, and as always, you can find my 2024 C.F. Orr Stakes betting strategy below!
Suggested Bets
- 2 Units Mr Brightside
- 1 Unit E/W Veight
2024 C.F. Orr Stakes – Winner
Mr Brightside makes his return to the races in search of a fifth Group 1.
The Lindsay Park-trained six-year-old kicked off his autumn campaign in this same contest last year, a race that proved to be a launchpad for future success in the All-Star Mile and the Doncaster further into his preparation.
Unlike last time, he’s drawn a much kinder barrier on this occasion, one that should see Craig Williams park off the speed nice and early.
He barely moved a muscle in a recent jump out at Flemington and has always been a tough horse to beat fresh. Proven at Caulfield, I simply can’t find a reason why he won’t be adding to his already impressive resume.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Mr Brightside
2024 C.F. Orr Stakes – 2nd
Veight is a promising three-year-old out of the McEvoy camp that should measure up nicely in a race like this.
The colt by Grunt returned to the winner’s stall first-up at The Valley a couple of weeks ago in the Group 2 Australia Stakes, largely thanks to a 10/10 steer from Damian Lane.
The pair stalked the speed nicely into the straight, unleashing down the middle to win narrowly among a wall of horses charging the line.
His form throughout the spring last year was just as solid, notably finishing runner-up in the Caulfield Guineas before struggling for luck from a wide gate in the Coolmore.
As a two-year-old, it’s worth noting he won the Sires’ by two lengths in his second run back over this trip at Flemington, and providing Lane can settle handy from the low gate, he should be a serious threat to the favourite.
Suggested Bet: No. 9 Veight
2024 C.F. Orr Stakes – 3rd
Pericles has to be respected based on what we saw from the Godolphin gelding last spring.
The son of Street Boss looked home and hosed in The Golden Eagle last time out, done right on the line by Japanese import Obamburumai after giving good chase coming off the fence.
This is his first time racing in Victoria, and I do concede 1400m might be short of his best, but I think he can run a cheeky race based on his first-up efforts in the past.
Coming off an equally impressive trial win at Warwick Farm last month, a place is well within his grasp.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Pericles
2024 C.F. Orr Stakes – 4th
She tends to take a race or two warm into her prep, but Pride Of Jenni isn’t without claims in search of her hat-trick.
Ciaron Maher’s mare put together back-to-back Group 1 wins in the Empire Rose and Kennedy Mile to round out her spring, notably defeating Mr Brightside in the latter by over a length at Flemington.
She’s another one that appeared in terrific order at the jump outs recently, rolling forward before being restrained by Declan Bates over the final 200m.
She’ll probably be looking for further, but with some solid form around some of the country’s top horses last year, this is a mare that is capable of getting close to the money.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Pride Of Jenni