| What | 2025 CF Orr Stakes |
| Where | Caulfield Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria |
| When | Saturday, February 8, 2025 |
| Prizemoney | $750,000 |
| Distance | 1400m |
| Conditions | Weight For Age |
| 2024 winner | Mr Brightside (4) | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Craig Williams (59kg) |
|
Visit Dabble |
|
The 101st running of the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) headlines the massive 10-race meeting at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday. A quality field of 10 will duke it out for the $750,000 on offer, with one of Australia’s best, Mr Brightside, set to resume from a spell.
Can Mr Brightside go back-to-back and become the fifth multiple winner of the race? Or is their a bit of an upset brewing? Read on to see our full race preview and top tips for the 2025 CF Orr Stakes.
CF Orr Stakes 2025 odds
Mr Brightside has been installed as a $2.50 favourite with horse racing betting sites as he bids to add a ninth Group 1 victory to an already glowing record.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Another Wil ($4.40) and Australia Stakes winner Schwarz ($6.50) have been backed in early markets as they push for their maiden victory at the top level.
Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life ($8.50) is the only other runner under double figures, with previous Group 1 winners Southport Tycoon ($14) and Pinstriped ($19) garnering each-way support early.
CF Orr Stakes 2025 speed map
Having led throughout when claiming the Australia Stakes, Schwarz looks to be the leader in the 2025 CF Orr Stakes, with market rival Another Wil likely to land in a prominent role throughout.
Private Life (1) and Mr Brightside (8) will look for a stalking position, with the likes of Freedom Rally, Semana and Pinstriped all searching for a midfield spot.
On the back of a genuine tempo, Southport Tycoon and Steparty will be making their runs from the rear when the whips are cracking.
Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 CF Orr Stakes.
CF Orr Stakes 2025 preview & form
Despite being a $14 quote after the barrier draw, Southport Tycoon looks to represent great value in Saturday’s feature. The two-time Group 1 winner failed to fire first-up in the Australia Stakes over 1200m at Moonee Valley, but considering his second-up record (3: 2-1-0), he is bound to have improved from that effort. If Southport Tycoon can find the right run in transit under Mark Zahra, he has the ability to knock off Mr Brightside and the rest of his rivals.
If there is any chinks in Mr Brightside’s armour, it is when he returns from a spell (8: 3-2-1). There have been times where he’s been left flat-footed when resuming, and at $2.50 with BlondeBet, he looks like a favourite punters can take on. Another Wil and Schwarz both look like Group 1 winners in waiting, and with the right run they will be fighting out the finish.
If Mr Brightside is not at his best, it shapes as a cracking edition of the CF Orr Stakes.
CF Orr Stakes 2025 selections & best bets
2
SOUTHPORT TYCOON
1
MR BRIGHTSIDE
5
ANOTHER WIL
7
SCHWARZ
| $100 betting strategy | |
|---|---|
| $100 win | Southport Tycoon (#2) @ +1300 with |
CF Orr Stakes 2025 final field
1. Mr Brightside (8)
- T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 59kg
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Bullbars
- Dam: Lilahjay (NZ)
-333.33
2. Southport Tycoon (2)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 59kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Written Tycoon
- Dam: Ready to Rule (USA)
+230
3. Pinstriped (10)
- T: Enver Jusufovic
- J: Ben Allen
- W: 59kg
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Street Boss (USA)
- Dam: Snitzel Blitz
+260
4. Steparty (4)
- T: Paul Preusker
- J: Blaike McDougall
- W: 59kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Artie Schiller (USA)
- Dam: Watch Your Step
+230
5. Another Wil (3)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Ms Jamie Melham
- W: 59kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Street Boss (USA)
- Dam: Arohanui
-142.86
6. Freedom Rally (6)
- T: Tony Gollan
- J: Ethan Brown
- W: 59kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Rubick
- Dam: Ipioga
+500
7. Schwarz (7)
- T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
- J: Blake Shinn
- W: 59kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Zoustar
- Dam: Summer Sham
-105.26
8. Semana (9)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Thomas Stockdale
- W: 57kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Winning Rupert
- Dam: Festivity
+600
9. Super Smink (5)
- T: Daniel Morton
- J: John Allen
- W: 57kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Super One
- Dam: Sminky Shorts
+500
10. Private Life (1)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Damian Lane
- W: 55.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Written Tycoon
- Dam: Aliyana Tilde
+130
Horse racing tips
