Mr Brightside Seeks Fifth Group 1 Title in 2024 CF Orr Stakes Opener

Australia’s elite racing season gallops into action at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday with the prestigious CF Orr Stakes 2024, boasting a star-studded field vying for the $750,000 prize.

Mr Brightside (Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos) | Horseracing.com.au

Mr Brightside is firm favourite to salute fresh in the 2024 C.F. Orr Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The reigning All-Star Mile champion, Mr Brightside, heads the pack as the short favourite, chasing his fifth Group 1 victory.

The six-year-old, known for his brilliant performances at weight-for-age and impressive $11.47 million earnings, looks primed for victory at his beloved Caulfield track. With Craig Williams onboard again, he jumps from barrier four, seeking revenge for his fifth-place finish in the Orr last year when the race ran at Sandown.

Mr Brightside boasts an impressive record at Caulfield, having triumphed three out of four times, including a dominant win in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes last season first-up. He continued his winning streak with the Group 1 Memsie – Makybe Diva double, but faced frustrating runner-up finishes in the spring, most notably losing the coveted Cox Plate by a whisker.

With a small field and a first-up advantage at his favourite track, Mr Brightside justifies his favouritism, currently offered at $2.05 through Ladbrokes.

He faces stiff competition from Veight ($5.50), the early market mover trained for Tony & Calvin McEvoy. This progressive Grunt colt, ridden by Damian Lane, looks to repeat the three-year-old victory streak in the Orr after Jacquinot last autumn.

Already a four-time winner, Veight impressed fresh with a narrow win in the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley and boasts strong Caulfield form with a Group 3 win and a Caulfield Guineas second-place finish over the mile last campaign.

Other major contenders include Pride Of Jenni ($6.50), seeking to extend her back-to-back Group 1 winning streak after dominating the Empire Rose Stakes – Champions Mile double back in the spring, and the James Cummings-trained Pericles ($7.50), a 1400m specialist boasting a near-perfect record at the Orr distance.

With a mix of fresh horses and proven performers, the 2024 CF Orr Stakes promises an exciting start to the racing season.

Don’t miss the action on Saturday as these thoroughbred champions battle it out for Group 1 glory at Caulfield.

2024 C.F. Orr Stakes Field & Barriers

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 11x111222x MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Craig Williams 4 59kg 118
2 1292x1132x PERICLES James Cummings Mark Zahra 5 59kg 109
3 17x128x301 MUNHAMEK (GB) Nick Ryan Blake Shinn 9 59kg 106
4 0113×75144 BUSTLER Neville Parnham Steven Parnham 6 59kg 107
5 9x901410x3 BUFFALO RIVER (USA) Michael Moroney Ms Celine Gaudray (a) 1 59kg 100
6 x578x17601 AYRTON (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Ms Jamie Kah 8 59kg 104
7 16Px52021x ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller Michael Dee 7 57kg 114
8 298x62611x PRIDE OF JENNI Ciaron Maher Declan Bates 3 57kg 115
9 114x1525x1 VEIGHT Tony & Calvin McEvoy Damian Lane 2 55.5kg 104

Table Credit: Racing Australia.


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