CF Orr Runner-By-Runner Guide

The CF Orr Stakes pits some quality gallopers up against one another and we take a look at the CF Orr Stakes horses. 

Here is our runner-by-runner look at the CF Orr Stakes horses.

2021 CF Orr Stakes Horses

1. HUMIDOR $31
The veteran is one of the seven horses in the field of 10 that resume in the Orr Stakes and was no match for Sir Dragonet in the Cox Plate (2040m) before heading for a spell. The Chris Waller-trained galloper should start at decent odds but might attract the popular vote and did produce a brilliant win when fresh in the spring in the Feehan Stakes (1600m) ahead of Surprise Baby. He went 10 lengths faster than standard in that race and we know his best for is good enough to win this, while veterans have produced plenty of surprises in the weight-for-age races over the last few years. But logic suggests that he might land somewhere just behind the placegetters in this race.

2. SIR DRAGONET $2.90
The Cox Plate champion resumes after finishing 6th in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) and wasn’t going to run in the Orr Stakes but came into calculations with an impressive trial performance at Geelong last week. His target is the All Star Mile (1600m) but he should be fit and ready to go and deserves favouritism for this race after his dominant win at the Valley last year when he relished the wet track. The Maher/Eustace entire is some query on top of the ground but as he heads into his second preparation in Australia the sky could be the limit. From barrier 3 with Glen Boss on board he should be hard to beat.

3. FIFTY STARS $8.50
The consistent galloper was unlucky in this race last year when fresh, finishing 4th behind Alabama Express before capturing the Blamey Stakes (1600m) and Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington. He resumes after finishing runner-up behind Arcadia Queen in the Mackinnon Stakes and his first up form of just one win from six starts is much better than it reads. A definite top three contender.

4. ANGEL OF TRUTH $34
The Team Hawkes five-year-old is winless since taking out the Australian Derby (2400m) and is likely to need the run. He did finish runner-up when resuming in the Spring Preview (1400m) last Randwick on a Heavy track but the figures out of that race aren’t really anything to be enthused about. It is hard to see him landing in the top five.

5. STREETS OF AVALON $8
The Shane Nichols galloper does seem to be a rung or two below the best in this race but represents the likely pace in the race and did snag a Group 1 this time just under a year ago at the track and distance in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) when allowed to dictate on a mad leaders track. The six-year-old comes off a last start win in the Australia Stakes (1200m) in a small field, going just four lengths faster than standard. A four time winner from 13 starts at the track and trip, he should be in it for a long way, particularly if the race is run to suit.

6. IMAGING $7
The Chris Waller-trained gelding makes his way down for his first start in Melbourne, having spent his last two campaigns in Sydney. The six-year-old took out the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) when second up last year but hasn’t won since then. He was 3rd in the Missile Stakes (1200m) behind Eduardo when fresh in the spring, while his career peak of 12 lengths faster than standard came at the end of his last campaign. He will be competitive enough but unless there are any significant betting moves, I am wiling to risk.

7. BLAZEJOWSKI $17
Like Streets Of Avalon, this guy does enjoy a fitness advantage over his rivals and was a last start winner at the track and trip, taking out the Barton Stakes. The grey galloper from the Greg Eurell stable is likely to settle handy and went 7.5 lengths faster than standard last time, while his career peak of 12 lengths faster that was set at Flemington just under a year ago might be enough to trouble the top runners if they are off their game.

8. ARCADIA PRINCE $71
The outsider of the field missed all of 2020 and will need to improve on his first up effort that saw him place 5th of six runners in the Australia Stakes (1200m).

9. SOVEREIGN AWARD $11
The mare from the Danny O’Brien camp has won eight of 16 and claimed a couple of Group 3 races last spring, including the Tesio Stakes (1600m) on Cox Plate day. The daughter of Shamus Award does have a bit of upside and likes Caulfield but may just be a rung or two below these at this stage.

10. CROSSHAVEN $4
The promising three-year-old has been installed as second favourite for this race and displayed plenty of fighting qualities to win the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) last spring. He stuck on well behind Ole Kirk after a tough run in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) when 4th. The son of Smart Missile loves the track and is a bit untapped, while he is another that performed well in a recent trial. He will be looking to make it back-to-back wins for three-year-olds after Alabama Express took out this race last year and will settle in the first few.

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