Even if you don’t have the time, inclination or bank to invest into Caulfield’s Orr Stakes formguide, the replays and stewards’ reports will be compulsory texts for anyone with an interest in the Autumn Carnival.
These fields cover the whole gamut!
Spring punters will have heard of Cup stalwarts Viewed, Shocking, Zipping and Littorio, all of whom resume against the better-suited Heart of Dreams, Sniper’s Bullet and short-priced favorite Typhoon Tracy, who trainer Peter Moody has spruiked as world class. She would therefore need to win the 1400-metres WFA Orr Stakes authoritatively. In doing so she would join a great honour roll (which we might highlight in further discussions on this site).
At the other end of the familiarity spectrum lie the tw0-year-old colts and fillies who line up for their expectant owners in the respective Preludes. Some of these virtual unknowns will emerge with a boom by Sunday but their propensity to be the next big Slipper winner, super-sire or “flash in the pan” will not really be clear until season’s end.
Nominal Blue Diamond favorite, Kerrin McEvoy’s mount Secession, will be worth visiting in his stall as he is by the star of the 2004 Orr Stakes winner, Lonhro (by Octagonal out of Shadea), whose sons seem to have inherited his muscle and presence.
No more muscle or presence, it must be said, than the colt known as “Little Lonhro”, Denman, who goes around in the third race. Be sure to see him parade (preferably live, otherwise on TVN). If you do, I dare you not to fall under his black spell. This is a seriously magnificent beast who could be Australia’s best three-year-old and thus should win in a canter.
The other really good race on a terrific card is the Rubiton Stakes (R6, 1100m). Irish Lights has been earmarked for stardom but faces a stern challenge first up against the classy filly Avenue and seasoned sprinters including Lucky Secret, Here De Angels and Secret Flyer.
This should be a ripper meeting and I’m keen to hear anyone’s thoughts. I’m trying to keep my distance and not bet, but there’ll be some excellent value for the brave.
For those watching the Valley this evening take note of Kav’s We’re Gonna Rock (R4, No1), of whom much is expected this prep, and watch the badly drawn first starter (R3, No6) in the maiden beforehand.
Glad I didn’t back Kav’s shorty tonight and did not see the race…what happened for it to miss a place? The one in R3 was a great run. Missed the start and somehow came second (paid $5 plus the drum and I backed just for a win!)but the winner sounded outstandind.
Now to tomorrow.
These are perfect drying conditions so I’d not be stuffing around looking for wet trackers. Caulfield, usually true, was a terrible front bias last time but a true rail should make for good racing.
Bossy gave out a big tip for Irish Lights when interviewed after Race 1 at the Valley tonight. He said he’d rated her ahead of Wanted in the Lightning…she was scratched and he lost on the line. I’m sure she’s good but I’ll be betting on an older horse at some value.
Also on TVN, John McArdle was adamant that Sweet Cheeks was his best. I reckon She’s Got Gears could be the threat in that heat.
As a punter I can’t bet against Denman or Typhoon Tracy, but I’m keen to find some value in the last two races which are classic, open “get outs”.
Any clues?
Kav’s nag ran like a busted tijuana.
It didn’t handle the bend and the going at all. It was gorn at the tabaret.
Rodd eased it up in the straight.
It must barrier trial before it races again.
The vet exam might find something.
They generally have to string a few in a row emphatically before I get excited.
The turf is littered with Murphy’s Blu Boy types.
PS Crio,
It ran a conspicious last.
I love the Orr Stakes.
1400m, WFA and at the start of the Carnival, it has a glorious honour roll, featuring both sprinters and plenty of Cup winners, with many champions and the occasional blowout.
Gigs, you might wish to investigate the extraordinary rate of single-named winners of this event
Here are some of my favourite horses which have also won the Orr Stakes….
Tobin Bronze, Leilani, Manikato, Surround, Let’s Elope, Redoute’s Choice, Elvstroem…
Evening lads.
And Gigs, you oughta inspect the Orr card’s Race 5 No.8 – surely a lazy fiver on first starter the Gigstar.
Crio hopefully you’ll be out there swinging the satch, and I’m gonna take your advice and sneak a peak at the Lil Lonhs.
I’m saved from blowing early cash on money munching giraffe Miles Above (staying home), but instead have got the early $3.30 on Danleigh in the Expressway (heavy up there tomorrow and loves the wet).
Am on Pelizotti at $8 and Irish Lights at $5.50. Need Pelizotti to get into the Diamond and win for my big double into my boy the silent one in the Newmarket.
And I’m a big fan of Tracy, but Crio your lad the Heart is sitting there at $5 …. twitch…. gone. Couldn’t help myself. Let me know if I’ve burned another McKenna.
Crio, will endeavour to find a few minutes to investigate the single name phenomenon.
Freezer, thanks for the tip – I’m definitely jumping on Gigstar. One of my online footy teams is in fact called The Gigstars, and has been for years. I might have to seek legal counsel…
Gigs,
The single name trend in more recent years, especially in Sydney, can be explained by the Ingham juggernaut (now Snowden’s horses) which were all single words, but the Orr Stakes has a long history.
And Freeza, I’m not going today. Just home from junior cricket so might go to the “cheats in seats” instead tonight. I’m at all the Sayurdays after today.
Good luck.
We’re Gonna Rock has to have pulled up sore. Cruised around them at the school but stopped as if shot.
Irish Lights is the one bet special today. Reckon Avenue, Lucky Secret and Here de Angels will set a hot speed and the filly will peel off like Nicconi did last week and finish too strongly for them. I took the $5 last night (obviously after Freeza had knocked off the $5.50).
Very impressive list of winners there for the Orr. Only Typhoon Tracy’s name would be able to sit anywhere near any of them (and she’d need to keep doing it for a while yet to be their standard).
Jeepers, glad I snapped up the $5 on Heart, considering he started at $7! Good effort from him but Tracy too classy. And while I got good early each-way value about Pelizotti and Irish Lights, all came to nichts. You can’t eat odds.
We’ve still got a 20% quaddie going, that’ll be it for me today.
And Gigs your boy was a bit unruly at the gates, but at least you got your money back!
I’ve sooked since Bolle, which I followed all last prep, won the first. I was ready to click on the $26 with Betfair when I unfortunately glanced at recent form and decided to desist!
The rest has gone as expected. Denman too good. Tracy best suited to this race. the senior horses too hardened for the 3 yr olds in the Rubiton. The good ‘uns fichting out the R8 with Ollie the diff.
Now for the raffle in the last.
Small snip at Vandalo??
Geary and I also suffering re Bolle Crio, been with for most of career, but recent runs too poor.
We got a section of that quaddie (had excluded Berringama so lucky Miss Maren got over top of it) to mitigate earlier pain.
Just have to save up for annual punting cash slaughter on Blue Diamond Day now…
Freezer
I thought your annual punting slaughter was Darwin. Geez, the Blue Diamond must be bad.
Speaking of which Harmsy, Molotov has been bought with the express purpose of winning the Darwin Cup and he ran well yesterday – if we could get on now am sure we’d get it all back…
No surprise about the result, Crio, but still funny how the first two places were filled by the only horses NOT to have single-word names.
A brief analysis of the Orr Stakes reveals that 60% of winners have been single-worders since the race’s inception in 1925. It drops back to 56% if you look only at the race’s history as a Group 1 event (1993 onwards).
Of course, none of that means much until I have a look at what percentage of each field had a single-word name.
I’m working on it…