The first Group 1 race of the year has arrived and we couldn’t be more excited – the Neds CF Orr Stakes headlines an enormous program at Caulfield!
Given its position on the calendar, the Neds CF Orr Stakes always attracts a quality field, but we’ll be treated to a particularly strong edition on Saturday as Cox Plate champion Sir Dragonet takes his position alongside the likes of Humidor, Imaging and Crosshaven.
Check out my 2021 Neds CF Orr Stakes tips below.
Suggested Bets
- 3 Units straight out #2 Sir Dragonet
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
I am wary of him launching his campaign over 1400m, but I think that Sir Dragonet’s class alone will take him a long way towards winning the Neds CF Orr Stakes, and I frankly cannot find one to beat him.
Sir Dragonet has been an above-average performance since debuting for Irish legend Aidan O’Brien in April of 2019 and found form around some of the world’s best gallopers when saddled in Europe.
Having ended his northern hemisphere tenure second behind Magical in the Group 1 Gold Cup at The Curragh, the Camelot entire debuted in Australia in the best way possible; beating an outstanding field in the Cox Plate.
He went to the paddock after finishing sixth in the Melbourne Cup and will be steered by Glen Boss, from barrier 3 on Saturday.
His racing career looked to be over when he was sent to Perth in winter last year but another change in scenery, this time to the country’s best trainer, brought Humidor right back on and I think that he can run a cheeky race first-up in the Neds CF Orr Stakes.
His career and record have been well documented, but Humidor well and truly wound back the clock during the 2020 Spring Carnival, winning the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at odds of $20 when fresh and continued to be competitive, placing in both the Underwood Stakes and the Neds (Caulfield) Stakes.
In my opinion, this shapes as the ideal autumn kick off point for him, not just with a view towards something later in the season, but also as a very winnable contest.
Crosshaven is the sole three-year-old in the 2021 Neds CF Orr Stakes field, and looks capable of a bold first-up showing.
The Smart Missile gelding has made just seven appearances at the races so far, but has more than stamped himself as a runner to follow, winning five times.
His rise through the grades in the spring was impressive, and featured consecutive and dominant triumphs in the Exford Plate and the Neds Caulfield Guineas Prelude, a credible fourth in the Neds Caulfield Guineas, and another win in the Carbine Club Stakes at the end.
He has trialled exceptionally well in the lead-up to his return and gets into this race well under the conditions.
Imaging will also contest the Neds CF Orr Stakes as a first point of call this prep, and his fresh record is excellent (7:2-2-1).
The Oasis Dream gelding has been a model of consistency for several seasons now, but a maiden Group 1 win remains elusive.
He finished fourth in the Group 1 Winx Stakes early last prep and placed in both the George Main and the Yes Yes Yes Stakes most notably, and a repeat of any of those efforts would see him beating home a lot of Saturday’s rivals.