Weight-for-age star Mr Brightside kicks off his highly-anticipated autumn campaign in Melbourne on Saturday’s and will jump short favourite in CF Orr Stakes 2024 betting.

Four-time Group 1 champ Mr Brightside is the one to beat fresh in the 2024 C.F. Orr Stakes in Melbourne on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Elite level racing for the year gets underway down under at Caulfield Racecourse with a diminutive but class field of runners gathered for the Group 1 $750,000 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m).

Heading the Orr field and markets at Ladbrokes.com.au is the Lindsay Park-raced Mr Brightside chasing his fifth Group 1 success.

The reigning All-Star Mile champion from last season jumps from a gun barrier four draw with Craig Williams back aboard the brilliant $11.47 million earner.

The now six-year-old son of Bullbars was fifth to Jacquinot in the race last year when the Orr ran at Sandown, but looks the one to beat 12 months on back at his pet track.

He has won three from four at Caulfield including saluting in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) by nearly two lengths at this track and trip first-up last prep.

Mr Brightside went on to win the Group 1 Memsie – Makybe Diva Stakes double before a string of frustrating second placings in the spring including going down a nostril flare to Romantic Warrior in the coveted Cox Plate.

First-up at Caulfield from the gate against a small field he is deserving of his short price and currently pays CF Orr Stakes odds of $2.05 at Ladbrokes.com.au after easing slightly from his earlier odds-on quote.

Of the eight other runners in this year’s Orr a further three are also under double-figures to win including the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained early market mover Veight ($7 into $5.50).

Damian Lane retains the ride on the progressive Grunt colt who is out to go back-to-back for the three-year-olds in the event.

A four-time winner from his eight starts to date, he was excellent fresh posting a narrow win at The Valley in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m).

Veight is a Group 3 winner at the Caulfield track and will have no issues with the 1400m second-up having placed second over a mile in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) here last prep making him an interesting edition to the field.

The resuming Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni ($6.50) and the Godolphin-raced Pericles ($7.50) also racing fresh are the other major players according to the bookies.

Six-year-old Pride Of Dubai mare, Pride Of Jenni, is out to kick off where she left off after she went out as a back-to-back Group 1 winner at Flemington completing the Empire Rose Stakes – Champions Mile double in the spring.

She may be yet to win first-up from six previous runs fresh, but she has the class and ability to surprise a few.

The James Cummings-trained Street Boss four-year-old, Pericles, is a 1400m specialist boasting at op record over the Orr distance (5:3-1-0).

He was last seen running a devastatingly close second in the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill back in early November, and he recently defeated Griff in a Warwick Farm hit-out ahead of his first run at Caulfield.

The C.F. Orr Stakes 2024 is set to run as Caulfield Race 9 at 4:55pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card with the latest markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.

2024 CF Orr Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.