The 2017 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes is the first Group 1 event of the year and it is a fascinating contest that is packed full of talent.
There are nine Group 1 winners in this field and you can legitimately make a case for just about every horse in the contest.
Will Black Heart Bart or Malaguerra salute at a short price or will there be a Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes upset? We have analysed every horse in the field and you can find our thoughts on each runner below before checking out the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes betting markets.
Black Heart Bart
Black Heart Bart is one of the horses to beat in the 2017 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Black Heart Bart was far from disgraced when he chased home Malaguerra in the Australia Stakes first-up and he should take a big step forward second-up in the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes. He rated at a level to win the Memsie Stakes in the spring that will be tough for any other horse in this field to match over this trip. The barrier draw is slightly awkward, but he is such a versatile galloper that Brad Rawiller is sure to have plenty of options. He is the horse to beat.
Awesome Rock
Awesome Rock went to another level during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival and he produced a new career best effort to claim a maiden Group 1 victory in the Emirates Stakes. This is short of his best trip and he generally requires a run before he performs at his best, but he is capable of producing a better performance than his current odds suggest.
Lucky Hussler
Lucky Hussler was a good thing beaten in the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes last year and he is a tough horse to assess ahead of this race. There is no doubt that he wasn’t at his best during the spring and although he had plenty of excuses he was probably entitled to do a little better against a fairly weak field in the Magic Millions Cup. In saying that it would not surprise if he was a big improver on Saturday, but I can’t get him as short as his current price.
Malaguerra
Malaguerra produced an excellent performance to win the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley last start. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Malaguerra is the obvious danger to Black Heart Bart. He had the wrapped up a long way from home in the Australia Stakes and he now has a number of high-rating performances to his name in races over 1200 metres. The question is whether he can produce that effort over 1400 metres and there is no doubt that there are other horses in this field that have more upside over this trip. He is right in this race, but I am happy to take him on at this trip.
Turn Me Loose
Turn Me Loose was a superstar in the making this time 12 months ago, but he has been very poor since he won the Futurity Stakes this time last year. He returned to the races with a very flat effort in the Australia Stakes and it is very difficult to have any confidence in him off the back of that performance.
Arod
Arod is the x-factor in the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes and it is no surprise that there has been plenty of early money for the import. He has only recorded four race wins, but he has competed at the very highest level throughout his racing career and he has a number of high-rating performances on his racing resume. He returned to Australian racing with an excellent performance at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day and it really would not surprise if he went to another level this preparation. He is a great each-way bet at his current price.
Palentino
Palentino beat Black Heart Bart to win the Makybe Diva Stakes during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Palentino is a high-quality horse that is more than capable of winning this race, but his racing pattern suggests that he will take plenty of benefit from this run. All of the best performances during his racing career to date have been third-up over a mile at Flemington. I expect to see him hitting the line strongly as he builds towards a race like the Australian Cup, but he is another that is a touch over the odds.
Ecuador
Ecuador has a fitness edge over the majority of his rivals and is racing in career best form. This is a much tougher race than the December Handicap and the Carrington Stakes, but he does make his own luck right on the speed and that fitness edge will take him a long way. I am not sure that he has the class to win this race, but he is more than capable of finishing in the placings.
He’s Our Rokkii
He’s Our Rokkii gets his opportunity at weight-for-age after winning the Toorak Handicap during the spring. He has a horse that was very good to be during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival, but he will still need to find a couple of lengths improvement to be competitive at this level as an autumn four-year-old.
Jameka
Jameka is another horse that is heading towards the Australian Cup and I think that even Ciaron Maher would be surprised if she is able to win the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes. She rarely runs a bad race and she will be hitting the line strongly, but she won’t be anywhere near her peak and that makes winning this race extremely difficult.
Miss Rose De Lago
Miss Rose De Lago did win the P.B. Lawrence Stakes over this track and distance in the spring, but this is a much tougher race than this one. As a six-year-old mare she probably isn’t getting any better and she has never shown that she is capable of winning a race of this quality.
Divine Prophet
The presence of a three-year-old always adds plenty of interest to the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes and Divine Prophet has done just that. He has put together a nice record from his seven race starts, but this is easily the toughest test of his racing career to date and he would have to improve significantly. He is a nice horse, but I would have him double the current price in this race.