The first Group 1 of the Autumn Carnival is upon us with the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) from Caulfield on Saturday.
The meeting is backed up by a fantastic card of racing with the Blue Diamond Preludes as well as a handful of black-type races.
Randwick also plays host to the $2,000,000 Inglis Millennium (1100m) as well as the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).
It’s time to preview and highlight the best races and bets!
Caulfield Race 2 - Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) (1100m)
#5 arcaded
This filly was sublime on debut at Caulfield over this distance after enjoying a lovely run on the leaders back, peeling out and proving far too good for her opposition.
She was bailed away, one pair back on the fence, and although she took a few strides to really knuckle down, her acceleration late in the race was that of a group horse.
She returns to the scene of the crime here and draws a middle barrier this time. That actually seems to suit the style of horse she is as well. She’ll be able to straighten up and have full momentum going into the straight rather than having to wait for a run like she did on debut.
Suggested Bet: Arcaded win at $3.2
Caulfield Race 3 - Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) (1100m)
#3 extreme warrior
He might still be a maiden but Extreme Warrior has been very brave in his two career runs to date.
On debut he was buffeted and bumped throughout the run where the leader, and eventual winner, had a very easy time in front. He still had the audacity to pick up late and find the line to run second.
His second career run was not easy either. The two-year-old colt had to cut the breeze three and four deep without any cover while the winner and favourite for that race, and this race, General Beau, had the dream run inside horses with cover.
He was still surging to the line and now gets an important gear change with the tongue tie going on.
The Blue Diamond Preview also suggested he still has a heap of improvement to come from a fitness perspective and the son of Blue Diamond winner Extreme Choice looks ready to break his maiden status on the way to the Blue Diamond in a fortnight.
Suggested Bet: Extreme Warrior each-way at $6.
Caulfield Race 8 - CF Orr Stakes (1400m)
#10 crosshaven
They don’t come tougher than this talented three-year-old gelding from the Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes stable.
Seven career starts for five wins and all five have been super impressive.
His run in the Caulfield Guineas was unbelievable. Had to sit three wide up on a hot speed with no cover and was still finding the line to run a respectable fourth behind star stablemate Aysar and eventual winner Ole Kirk.
Crosshaven ended up reversing the tables on Aysar the next start in the Carbine Club at Flemington and has since had a spell with this, the C F Orr being his first-up assignment.
He’ll settle in the lead or take the sit just in behind the lead speed here and should prove too good for this lot. He’s got the fresh legs, he’s got the sharpness and he’s got the weight to be able to pinch the first Group 1 of his, so far, exciting career.
Three-year-olds also have a good record in this race of recent years with Alabama Express winning last year’s edition and All Too Hard winning the 2013 edition.
Suggested Bet: Crosshaven win at $3.9
Randwick Race 5 - Inglis Millennium (1100m)
#1 profiteer
Profiteer is a deadset speed demon.
This two-year-old colt won like a star on debut up the straight at Flemington.
He went straight to the front and just kept going to win in smart time.
His breeding suggests a smart and sharp sprinting type through his career with his sire being Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, and his dam, Athena Lass, a stakes performed horse over the short course.
A lovely trial in between his debut run and his run this weekend means he’s ready to peak into this. He also gets the services of champion jockey Hugh Bowman to ensure an uninterrupted passage from barrier six.
Suggested Bet: Profiteer win at $1.85
Randwick Race 6 - Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m)
#3 north pacific
With the predicted rain for Sydney it’s probably a matter of how far North Pacific wins this by.
This three-year-old colt loves the wet tracks and looks an absolute class above compared to his opposition here.
He’s had two lovely trials to ensure a strong fitness base heading into this first-up run and he’s raced in much stronger company than this.
Runner-up to Ole Kirk in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) highlighted how much talent this colt has and he’s drawn a barrier where he doesn’t have to settle all the way back in the field to get cover and an energy conserving run-in-transit.
He’s on his way to bigger and better things this preparation. A Group 1 winning horse in the making.
Suggested Bet: North Pacific win at $2.2
