2010 CF Orr Stakes

The CF Orr Stakes is a 1400 metre weight-for-age race run at Caulfield by the Melbourne Racing Club. It is held in February on the first day of the Caulfield Festival of Racing which is part of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

Race Type: Group 1, Open WFA
Distance: 1400m
Track: Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
Date: 12 Feb 2011

C F Orr Stakes Racing Odds – Click Here

The CF Orr Stakes has been raced at five different racecourses and over distances ranging from 1400 metres (about 7 furlongs) to 12 furlongs (about 2400 metres) since it was first won by The Night Patrol in 1925 at Williamstown Racecourse over 8 furlongs (about 1609 metres).

It is rarely won by sprinting stars and instead the winners of past Orr Stakes tend to be middle-distance horses or true stayers who start their autumn campaigns in this race. The list of past winners includes Melbourne Cup winners Saintly (1997), Jeune (1995), Let’s Elope (1992), At Talaq (1987) and Comic Court (1951).

The race was held at Williamstown Racecourse from the first running in 1925 until 1940 and then through the 1940s it was shifted between Moonee Valley Racecourse, Flemington Racecourse and Caulfield Racecourse. It stayed at Caulfield from 1949 to 1965 then was moved to Sandown Racecourse from 1966 to 1996 until returning to Caulfield in 1997. Originally run under WFA with penalties until 1942 it was run under handicap conditions from 1943 to 1945. It has been a WFA race since 1946.

Only three horses have been able to win this race more than once as it requires both skill and speed. Bold front runner Vo Rogue won in 1988, 1989 and 1990, the mighty Manikato won in 1979, 1980 and 1981, and Lord won in 1959 and 1960. Many horses use the Orr Stakes as a lead-up race to the Futurity Stakes (1600 metres) three weeks later. Vo Rogue, Manikato and Lord all had at least one win each in the Futurity.

Past winners of the C F Orr Stakes: