C.F. ORR STAKES 2020 RACING PREVIEW
Caulfield Race 8 - 4:55pm
GROUP 1 - WFA
1400m
Rail - True
GOOD 4
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey (barrier) | Weight (kg) | Current Price |
| 1 | 1230x | HUMIDOR | C WALLER | D LANE (10) | 59 | $21.00 |
| 2 | 2x16x | SIR DRAGONET | C MAHER & D EUSTACE | G BOSS (3) | 59 | $2.80 |
| 3 | 8352x | FIFTY STARS | T DABERNIG & B HAYES | J ALLEN (6) | 59 | - |
| 4 | 2593x | ANGEL OF TRUTH | M HAWKES | J M NEIL (7) | 59 | $26.00 |
| 5 | 984x1 | STREETS OF AVALON | S NICHOLS | ZAC SPAIN (8) | 59 | $7.50 |
| 6 | 4303x | IMAGING | C WALLER | C WILLIAMS (9) | 59 | $6.00 |
| 7 | 57561 | BLAZEJOWSKI | G EURELL | M ZAHRA (1) | 59 | $14 |
| 8 | 740x5 | ARCADIA PRINCE | AMY MCDONALD | JORDAN CHILDS (2) | 59 | $61 |
| 9 | 6111x | SOVEREIGN AWARD | D O'BRIEN | D OLIVER (5) | 57 | $11 |
| 10 | 1141x | CROSSHAVEN | T DABERNIG & B HAYES | D W STACKHOUSE (4) | 55.5 | $3.80 |
OVERVIEW
The C.F. Orr Stakes kicks off Group 1 racing for the new year and an intriguing field of nine runners have assembled on what looks an outstanding day's racing at Caulfield. The 2020 Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet currently heads the market with BlueBet at $2.75 and is undoubtedly one of the most interesting runners of the day.
SPEED
Looks above average speed here with the three-year-old Crosshaven likely to push forward with Streets of Avalon. Sovereign Award won't be far away with Blazejowski hoping to hold a spot from the inside draw. Arcadia Prince and Angel Of Truth can hold positions next from the favourite Sir Dragonet who may get back on the inside. Both Waller runners Imaging and Humidor look to go back.
KEY RUNNERS
2. SIR DRAGONET ($2.75) Glen Boss/Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
This race revolves entirely around the question marks on the 2020 Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet for the Maher/Eustace camp, who returns here first up at 1400m off an impressive jump out and a super trial win at Geelong. From all reports the horse is absolutely flying and kicks off his Autumn campaign here with lofty targets in mind. The queries are the 1400m and the racing surface, with all his overseas form and best figures over much further and on rain affected going. Note however that he was untried at anything below 2000m and ran a bold race in last year's Melbourne Cup on a good track, so perhaps that is speculation more than anything. Maps to get back on the inside which may not be the place to be by this stage of the day so Boss will need luck navigating a path. No doubt the best horse in the race but at the price I'm happy to look past him and think he has to drift closer to the off.
10. CROSSHAVEN ($3.80) Daniel Stackhouse/Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes
Extremely honest 3-year-old gelding who resumes here off a strong spring campaign which culminated in a win in the Group 3 Carbine Club at Flemington, having run a super race in the Caulfield Guineas prior when finishing 4th to Ole Kirk. Very hard to knock this galloper from Lindsay Park who has won five of his seven starts and looks to get all favours here with an on-speed racing pattern. Should roll forward from the good gate ensuring a good tempo, which this horse has shown he relishes, and is the one they all need to get past. Looks the bet in the race.
6. IMAGING ($6.50) Craig Williams/Chris Waller
Resumes here for Waller off two very sharp trials where he's savaged the line in each. Record at 1400m is very strong and you only need to go back to last preparation to see how unlucky he was not to win the Group 1 Winx Stakes at Randwick. Gets a very positive jockey booking in the shape of Craig Williams and looks the one who will be charging late, potentially in the best ground late in the day.
TOP PICK
CROSSHAVEN ($3.80)
With some question marks around the favourite Sir Dragonet, happy to side with the 3-year-old in Crosshaven who resumes here first up for the Lindsay Park operation. Just looks the one with plenty of ticks. His record at 1400 is strong (2/2), he maps on speed, and has shown that he has the capability to absorb and kick off fast tempos, which invariably may be the race shape we see on Saturday. Happy to be in his corner in the first Group 1 of 2021.
Good luck punters!
