The first Group 1 of 2025 headlines the action at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon, with a quality field of 10 assembled for the time-honoured Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m).
Four of the 10 runners engaged have tasted Group 1 success in the past, including last year’s winner and eight-time Group 1 winning gelding Mr Brightside who makes his return after a slashing victory in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington on November 9 at the end of last preparation.
The Lindsay Park-trained seven-year-old is the current $2.50 favourite with horse racing bookmakers post-barrier draw; however, jockey Craig Williams may need some luck to fall his way after drawing out in gate eight.
After a barnstorming effort in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on the same day, the Chris Waller-trained Private Life ($10.00) gets another chance to take on the older horses, with the son of Written Tycoon likely to be suited by the extra 200m to chase down his rivals.
The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) winner is the only three-year-old set to line up in Saturday’s $750,000 feature and seemingly gets every chance to figure after drawing barrier one under star hoop Damien Lane.
The Ciaron Maher barn sends around three runners to represent his stable, including Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) runner-up Another Wil ($4.80) who goes in search of his first Group 1 success as Jamie Melham gets legged aboard once again, continuing her association with the Street Boss gelding.
The chances don’t end there, with the likes of Schwarz ($5.50) and Pinstriped ($15.00) garnering early support with Neds as we draw closer to the weight-for-age classic.
The 2025 C.F. Orr Stakes is the penultimate race on the Caulfield program and is scheduled to get underway at 4:55pm local time.
2025 CF Orr Stakes 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
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