2019 CF Orr Stakes Day Preview & Tips
Nature Strip will start favourite in the Black Caviar Lightning. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

2019 CF Orr Stakes Day Preview & Tips

The 2019 Autumn Carnival is in full flight from Saturday and we’re set for a huge edition of CF Orr Stakes Day at Caulfield.

Nine talent-rich races will be run and won, but the year’s first Group 1 feature has drawn a particularly glittering field and the CF Orr Stakes could prove to be one of the season’s best contests.

The rail will remain in the true position around the entire course on 2019 CF Orr Stakes Day and a fine forecast will likely see the track rated in the ‘Good’ range.

each way
The Big Screen Company Handicap (1800m)
No. 1 Yogi

The early scratching of Adirondack has left twelve horses in the field for the first and it remains an open one from a betting perspective – the Tony McEvoy-trained Laure Me In is the $3 favourite at publish, from former Weir galloper Silentz ($3.20), who is now under the care of SA trainer Phillip Stokes.

I’m keen to have an each-way play at another former Weir galloper in Yogi ($12), who will be saddled by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for the first time. The Raise The Flag gelding was last seen winning the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) in November and while he will be better over a bigger trip, he’s capable of a sharp run fresh.

Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m)
No. 3 Crack The Code

The first black type race of CF Orr Stakes Day and ten quality fillies will take their place in this year’s Kevin Hayes Stakes field.

Crack The Code ($3.30) from the Mick Price yard has opened the favourite in betting and really does look the one to beat again. The I Am Invincible filly has won each of her first two starts this time and should only improve into this race. She’s drawn beautifully in barrier 4 and with even luck, will be hard to hold out.

Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes (1200m)
No. 7 Just Hifalutin

The field for this year’s Bellmaine Stakes is small but excellent and there is a genuine case to be made for every runner in betting, all the way down the least-favoured Prussian Vixen ($18) who has won the two most-recent editions of the race.

Just Hifalutin ($5) has returned to racing in typically smart form this time and should only improve into her third-up assignment on Saturday. The Reset mare has recorded six wins and four minors throughout her fourteen career starts and was an impressive winner down the Flemington straight last time out. She saluted for us at $9.50 on that occasion and I see no reason to jump off.

Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m)
No Bet

Sandbar is an early scratching from the Rubiton Stakes field and only seven sprinters remain in contention.

Three former Weir gallopers have accepted into the field and understandably Nature Strip, now saddled by Chris Waller, has opened the clear $1.50 favourite in betting. He was scratched from his first-up target last week as a result of the Weir case being opened, but this doesn’t look a whole lot harder and his career form suggests he’ll be too good.

I think Nature Strip will win, but he is too short for me at that quote and I am happy to watch with a view towards the Oakleigh Plate.

each way
Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude C&G (1100m)
No. 5 Hulk

This race is final step on the traditional path towards the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes for the colts and geldings and we’re set for an exciting race here – I Am Immortal is the $2.70 favourite at publish, from the debuting Shotmaker ($6.50) and Aussie ($8).

There has been plenty of hype around the former Weir galloper Hulk ($10, now with Waller) and he could prove to be the value in this field at his current price. Hulk has only made one competitive appearance at the races so far and finished second behind classy filly Lankan Star after leading. He can go straight to the lead on Saturday from barrier 2 and with improvement, he can give them something to chase.

Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude F (1100m)
No. 1 Catch Me

The same race but for fillies and a capacity field of sixteen has been taken. Five fillies will make their competitive debuts, but the exciting Catch Me ($2.90) has opened favourite, ahead of Brooklyn Hustle ($4) and the Godolphin-trained Athiri ($5); the only other horse currently available at odds of less-than $10.

Catch Me has recorded two impressive wins from as many starts so far, both at black type level and resumed this time for an easy win in the Blue Diamond Preview F (1000m) a fortnight ago. She’s drawn ideally again in barrier 3 and Mark Zahra retains the ride.

Lankan Star will also carry winning form into this race and looks over the odds at her current price in betting ($12). The Nicconi filly worked home well to finish a nose second behind Bella Rosa in the Group 3 Bumble Stakes (1000m) on debut in November and was an easy winner over 1000m at Moonee Valley two weeks ago.

I’ll be happy to have something on both of these horses at their current prices.

Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m)
No. 1 Ringerdingding

Eleven three-year-olds will step out in this year’s Autumn Stakes and we’ll likely see a number of serious Australian Guineas prospects emerge. Social Spin ($3.60) has transferred from Weir to Mick Price and is the early favourite from former stable mate Ringerdingding ($4.80) and Dealmaker ($5).

Ringerdingding was airborne at the end of his Spring Carnival campaign and is up to winning a race of this calibre first-up. Yet another former Weir gallopers, the Sebring colt won both of the Listed Springtime Stakes (1400m) and Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) most-recently and is drawn to receive a lovely run from barrier 4.

each way
Group 1 Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes (1400m)
No. 6 D'Argento

Given its positioning as the first Group 1 of the calendar year, the field for the Orr Stakes is always good, but this year’s capacity group of sixteen is truly world class and we’re set for an outstanding contest. Kementari is the $3.40 favourite from Land Of Plenty ($5.50) and Whispering Brook ($6.50).

There was a big early go for Brave Smash and he has gone $19 into $9, while Perth galloper Material Man ($26) brings a completely different form line into the race and is the big unknown, while Group 1 winners Best Of Days ($18) and Redkirk Warrior ($16) are both more than capable of winning this at long odds.

I’m happy to have something each-way on the Chris Waller-trained D’Argento ($11) at his current price, who is also resuming after a good Spring Carnival campaign. A Group 1 winner last autumn, D’Argento finished in the places in both the Winx Stakes (1400m) and Epsom Handicap (1600m) most notably last time in and he’s drawn the rails here, with the added benefit of Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.

Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m)
No. 4 Avilius

A great edition of the Carlyon Cup but a potentially tough prospect for punters at the end of a big CF Orr Stakes Day, with several black type performers confirmed for a start.

Godolphin import Avilius ($2.80) was truly outstanding in spring and if he carries that form into this race, he’ll be hard to beat. The son of Pivotal won each of his first four starts upon touching down in Australia, three in black type company and finishing an impressive fourth behind Winx in the Cox Plate most notably.