CF Orr Stakes

Winners and Past Results

The CF Orr Stakes held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne during the autumn racing carnival is a Group 1 race run under weight for age conditions.  FREE $200 Bet

The open race is hotly contested by some of the best sprinters over a distance of 1400 meters.

The event is hosted by the Melbourne Racing Club in February with prize money worth $402,000 at stake for the winners. The CF Orr Stakes is held on the second biggest day of the season along with the two Blue Diamond Preludes, Group 2 Autumn Stakes and Group 3 Geoffrey Belmaine Stakes, Hyderabad R.C. Stakes and the Rubiton Stakes.

Handy gallopers seem to have the upper hand in the weight for age race with several top class horses winning the trophy since its inception in 1925. The first to win the title was Night Patrol followed by other outstanding horses like Typhoon Tracy (2010-2011) who was the latest among the few to score back to back victories. Lord won two back to back titles in 1959-60 while Manikato and Vo Rogue held on to the CF Orr Stakes for three years in a row each, from 1979-81 and 1988-90 respectively.

Other outstanding horses to win etch their name on the Stakes include Wenona Girl in 1962, Hyperno in 1978, At Talaq in 1987, Durbridge in 1993, Desert Sky in 2001, and Lonhro in 2004.

Many horses enter the CF Orr Stakes via the Group 2 Australia Stakes held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in January. The race is held under the same weight for age conditions over a shorter distance of 1200 meters.

Typhoon Tracy had the perfect warm up in the Australia Stakes before lifting the CF Orr Stakes for the second time in 2011. In form horses have their eye on the Group 2 St. George Stakes over an extended distance of 1800 meters and Group 1 Futurity Stakes over 1600 meters on the Caulfield track in the weeks following the event.

The CF Orr Stakes became a Group 2 race in 1980 and was elevated to Group 1 in 1993. Prior to becoming a weight for age race, it was also a handicap race and run under weight for age with penalties as well.

The race attracts a number of Group 1 winners including the likes of Maldivian the winner in 2009. Interestingly, over the last two decades the CF Orr Stakes has eight horses winning the race first up after a spell, which includes Maldivian.

2012 CF Orr Stakes

The step up to 1400 metres was the only question mark over Black Caviar as she chased her 18 th straight win. In the end, the extra distance made no difference to the champion mare as she settled nicely in fourth place and edged forward to join the leaders at the turn. When Luke Nolen gave her free rein in the straight she pulled away from a quality field in the easiest of fashion, coasting to the post more than three lengths clear of Southern Speed, with Playing God not far back in third.

2012 CF Orr Stakes result

1. Black Caviar
2. Southern Speed
3. Playing God

Then came:

4. Illo
5. Midas Touch
6. Doubtful Jack
7. Danzylum
8. Precedence
9. Efficient