The Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes 2018 betting markets have undergone a shake-up after the scratching of Black Heart Bart, our insider race tips and updated odds on the weight-for-age feature found below.
Shillelagh is the Races.com.au tip to win the Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes 2018 this weekend first-up at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
There are 13 smart horses left in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) field, the autumn’s first Group 1 race due to run as Caulfield Race 8 at 4:45pm (AEDT) on Saturday.
Friday morning trainer Darren Weir was forced to scratch the reigning CF Orr Stakes winner Black Heart Bart due to a hoof issue.
The five-time Group 1 champion is expected to undergo treatment for the minor problem and return to racing in a rescheduled first-up run in the Group 1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) in a fortnight.
In an open CF Orr Stakes betting market, five of the remaining hopefuls are under $10 for the win at Ladbrokes.com.au including the Weir-trained $4.20 favourite Tosen Stardom.
Last start winner of the Emirates Stakes at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the former Japanese galloper has posted two Group 1 wins down under and goes well fresh.
He has work to do from the outside barrier (13) and is yet to win over less than a mile, but is from last year’s winning stable and has class.
Tosen Stardom is followed in the Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes odds the Godolphin-raced Hartnell ($5), a regular Winx rival racing for the first time since his failed Melbourne Cup run (20th) last November.
The James Cummings-trained son of Authorized is out wide in gate 12, but trialled well at Warwick Farm at the start of the month and has good form at the distance (5:1-3-0) including a first-up Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) win here by 2.25 lengths last August.
The early CF Orr Stakes market mover backed in from $10 to $7 meanwhile is the Chris Waller-trained Savabeel mare Shillelagh, out to be the fifth mare since 2010 to take out the race.
She was last seen winning the Group 1 Kennedy Mile (1600m) on VRC Derby Day and presents as a genuine each way chance first-up off two trials.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies are then Weir’s other chance to go back-to-back in the race Brave Smash ($8.50) who the punters have shied away from and the widely-drawn Anthony freedman-trained Australia Stakes runner-up Mr Sneaky ($8).
Earlier we published our comprehensive Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes 2018 Form Guide & Betting Preview, our below tips based on the facts and stats uncovered there.
1st
#11 Shillelagh ($7)
Often underrated mare from the Waller stables, Shillelagh returns after winning the Group 1 Kennedy Mile (1600m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. 1400m first-up should suit, she’s got good form over the distance (8:2-1-1) and can win fresh. Market mover, so word is catching on, and she was good in her lead-up trial at Warwick Farm that Hartnell also comes out of. Mares have done well in this race over the past decade, and she’s the best of the girls this autumn.
2nd
#7 Mr Sneaky ($8)
Good price offered on Freedman’s consistent High Chaparral four-year-old who is a Group 1 runner-up at this track / distance in last October’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. First-up second in the Australia Stakes was solid and leaves nice room for improvement fitness-wise second-up. Good record over the 1400m so will enjoy the extra distance, just needs to get the luck from the nasty barrier.
3rd
#9 Dollar For Dollar ($19)
Value of the day could lie in this Tony McEvoy-trained High Chaparral five-year-old who doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Obviously a huge step-up in grade for the distance specialist (6:4-1-1), but is deserving of his shot. Comes off two nice lead-ups last month over the 1400m and in an open race is an each way chance.
Whether you’re backing or sacking our exclusive CF Orr Stakes 2018 tips, head along to race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au for the top odds on the weekend’s feature.
