2025 CF Orr Stakes Day Preview

Legacy Bay resumes in a winnable race at Caulfield this week.

The daughter of Zoustar hasn’t been seen at the races since July, but she turned in several pleasing performances last time in, winning in BM64 company at Sandown before only just missing behind Duchess Zou at HQ.

She’s trialled up nicely and boasts a good fresh record.

I’m going to stick with last-start winner Black Run when he steps out again on CF Orr Stakes Day.

Black Run returned to action with a good performance behind an impressive Oceanfront at Newcastle last month, while he took up the running back in Saturday metro company on The Golden Eagle Day at Randwick and recorded a tough victory.

He has been charged with carrying topweight here, but getting out to the mile and a half at this point of his prep does look to suit, while I’m only expecting his condition to improve as well.

Hiyaam Proud’s condition gave out fresh on Ladbrokes Bendigo Cup Day, but I am happy to give her another chance with the benefit of that run under her belt.

The well-bred mare has turned in some nice performances through 11 career starts so far, and her last victory came over 1800m right here at Caulfield.

She’s a second-up winner previously and we can have an each-way play this week in what looks an open race.

This is an excellent edition of the Village Stakes with plenty of classy sprinters engaged, including Sghirripa.

Sghirripa has mixed his form a little this year, but we know how good this horse is at his best, and he has picked off some lovely races throughout his career.

He clearly needed his first run back when seventh, beaten a little over 3 lengths by Rey Magnerio on Caulfield Cup Day, but he’s a horse that tends to enjoy sharp improvement with a run under his belt, and he should receive every chance in this contest.

Roll On High stormed home at her latest start to only just miss and gets a great chance to go one better in the Summoned Stakes.

Having tuned up with a couple of fair efforts first and second up this time, the Shamus Award mare was taken back by Daniel Stackhouse in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes on Cup Day and mustered an eye-catching turn of speed late to only just miss.

She’s hard fit this week, while getting out to the mile looks to be the key.

She’s Bulletproof was too bad to be true last time and I am going to give her another chance in Saturday’s How Now Stakes.

She was unlucky not to win in Group 1 company during her autumn prep this year, and She’s Bulletproof has raced well this time in, winning the Group 3 Northwood Plume over this route last month.

Nothing when right in the Begonia Belle on Derby Day, but she’s fit, back to her favourite track and in my opinion, is just the best horse in this race.

Tagline is the one for me in the 2025 Sandown Guineas field.

Tagline is yet to turn in a poor performance, winning two of five starts since debuting and placing on the other three occasions, finding form around some classy opposition.

He couldn’t have done a lot more without winning at Listed level over 1400m on Cup Day, and with the addition of Michael Dee this week, I think he’ll get every chance in what looks an ideal feature race.

Just seven horses make up the 2025 CF Orr Stakes field but what it lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in class.

Jimmysstar, Evaporate and Angel Capital are all engaged, and while the former does deserve is favouritism in CF Orr Stakes betting, I’m going to stick with Evaporate.

Evaporate has always been an above-average horse, but he’s definitely improved in 2025, and after winning the Sandown Stakes in September, beating home the likes of subsequent Group 1 winner Transatlantic, he’s only just been denied in both the Toorak Handicap and the Golden Eagle since.

He’s hard fit, the small drop in trip doesn’t look too harmful and he’ll get his chance in the small field.

My Gladiola is a clear standout top pick in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes field.

She’s yet to finish worse than second in four runs back this time, winning the Cap D’Antibes before finishing second behind Tentyris in the Coolmore most recently.

This is a big drop in class and if she holds her form, she could win by several lengths.

There’s a case to be made for a few of them in the last on 2025 CF Orr Stakes Day, but I am going to have something on the resuming Taken.

Taken hasn’t been seen at the races since June but he hardly put a hoof wrong last time in, finishing second at his first run back before record four impressive victories in succession.

A recent trial suggested he’s fit and ready to go, and he’s certainly up to the class of the race.