The C.F. Orr Stakes meeting will be held at Caulfield on Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with overcast weather in Melbourne leading up to the weekend, Caulfield will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
The unbeaten Hanseatic can continue his winning way in the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (Melbourne Race 4, 1100m). This Godolphin-owned colt won the Merson Cooper Stakes brilliantly on debut before a spell. Hanseatic resumed in the Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield coming from second last to run away from the field, sprinting his last 600m in 33.44 seconds. Luke Currie has been his regular rider and he’ll once again be onboard. Currie will let the colt to find his feet in the early part of the race before unleashing Hanseatic’s devastating turn-of-foot in the straight.
Melbourne Cup winning trainer Danny O’Brien has Banquo primed to take out the Autumn Stakes (Melbourne Race 5, 1400m). This 3YO colt’s potential was there for all to see when he won the Listed Hilton Stakes over 1400m in the Spring. Banquo resumed over 1100m at Flemington three weeks ago where he finished 3rd to Alabama Express. Stepping up to 1400m will suit him much better as his two career victories were both over this trip. Champion hoop Damien Oliver will stick with the colt and that’s a good sign. Nicely drawn in barrier 5 and with pretty good pace in the race, Oliver can easily slot in somewhere mid-field with a cushy run in transit, Banquo is going to overpower this field in the run home.
The running of C.F. Orr Stakes signals the beginning of the Autumn Carnival and it’s hard to go past Scales Of Justice in this Group 1 race (Melbourne Race 8, 1400m). This Lindsey Smith-trained gelding looks to have conditions to suit on Saturday as he is already a Group 1 winner (Memsie Stakes) over this track and trip. This 7YO has a great record over 1400m where he won 3 races with a further 3 placings from 8 attempts at the trip and he loves Caulfield with 2 wins from 3 starts at the venue. Scales Of Justice returned from his Spring campaign in good order winning the Australia Stakes (1200m) 1st up two weeks ago. Dean Yendall will go forward and box seating behind Begood Toya Mother and Hey Doc and Scales Of Justice looks pretty hard to beat.
By Owens Wong, Editor
