The first Group One of the Autumn carnival has arrived punters, with the running of the C.F Orr Stakes at Caulfield this Saturday.
It marks the true start of the season, and there is some ripping group level races to get through in both Sydney and Melbourne. Take a look at our PlayUp form analyst’s thoughts below.
Caulfield
R3 #2 Daumier $6.00 at PlayUp
Keen on the Godolphin runner here, in a hard G3 Blue Diamond prelude for the boys. He was strong winning on debut in a small field, knocking off a short favourite in Philosopher and a smart Rampant Lion. He maps for another perfect run here up on speed on a soft tempo, and with the firm ground and rail in the true that should be the perfect place throughout the day. His debut win rating was the strongest in this field, and he looks over the odds.
R5 #15 Madame Du Gast $12.00 at PlayUp
This is a cracking edition of the G2 Kevin Hayes Stakes, and I thought this runner at value looked a good each way play. Her debut win down the Flemington straight was mightily impressive to the eye, and was backed up on the clock. She finished over the top in the 2nd best last 200m split of the entire program, and ran her last 400 metres close to 4 lengths quicker than standard for the track and distance. Second up now, has been kept on the mark with a soft trial win, and draws lovely in barrier four. Has to be a huge player here I think.
R8 (G1 C.F. Orr Stakes) #12 Lightsaber $10.00 at PlayUp
Thought he looked a great value play here in the feature of the afternoon, coming off a strong first up run at The Valley. He ran 4th in that G2 Australia Stakes, and was only 1L off Sinawann who has come up favourite here. The Australia Stakes is the right form line for this G1, with three of the last six CF Orr winners coming through that race. Second up, out to 1400m and holding a light weight are three huge positives here. He has a dynamic record at the distance, with three wins from four starts, and looks to map for a very soft lead from the barrier. He should be single figures!
Randwick
R1 #9 Miss Faberge $6.50 at PlayUp
Very keen that this John Sargent filly runs a big race on debut, and I think she is unfairly priced against a very short favourite in Metallicity. She comes into this off the back of two trials, and her latest was the most impressive by far. She got back and wide in the trial and finished off with a sharp turn of foot under little urgings. I think that she will be ridden cold again here off what could be a strong tempo, and it would not surprise me to see her flashing through the line.
R6 #2 Law Of Indices $7.50 at PlayUp
Very keen on this Neasham runner who is having his second start in Australia. His one start here to date was first up in a Golden Eagle, where he flew home from the back to finish fifth, beaten under 2L in a great performance. A very quiet trial leading into this race, but he is a G1 winner in Europe and multiple group placed as well. He clearly is the smartest horse in the field, and the booking of James McDonald is surely a huge push that he is here to run very well.
