Australian Racing: Another Wil to shine in Caulfield showpiece

There are no fewer than 12 meetings scheduled to take place on Saturday, with the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield the main event.

They also race at Alice Springs, Ascot, Doomben, Gatton, Gilgandra, Gold Coast, Kembla Grange, Morphettville, Randwick, Tumut and Yarra Valley, with the Inglis Millennium at Randwick another highlight.

Race 9 Caulfield

Another Wil @ 3.40

Race 7 Randwick

Rivellino @ 5.50

Race 6 Caulfield

Maharba @ 3.60

Wil to deny Mr Brightside of a double

The previously mentioned Caulfield Group 1 contest comes up as the penultimate race on a ten-race card.

The race in question is the 1400m C.F. Orr Stakes, a $750,000 weight-for-age contest set to take place on a good 4 surface.

Superstar Mr Brightside is expected to jump as favourite, having registered a first-up win in this race 12 months ago.

The gelding has won three times in the interim, with all three of those victories coming at the highest level, including in the 1600m Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington in September.

The seven-year-old ended that prep with a VRC Champions Mile triumph over 1600m and he arrives here on the back of a barrier trial win at Geelong.

Ciaron Maher’s ANOTHER WIL has yet to face the Ben, JD & Will Hayes-trained superstar, but he demonstrated good form earlier this season registering three wins from five starts last prep.

Those wins included a victory by just over a length when contesting The Damien Oliver, a Group 2 handicap over 1400m at Flemington.

The five-year-old went on to lose out by less than half-a-length when contesting the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over this course and distance two weeks later.

The 3.40 gelding was beaten by a strong finishing rival on that occasion and he showed up well when taking out a 1200m jumpout at Cranbourne last month.

Regular rider Jamie Melham is again set to ride and the son of Street Boss looks capable of providing her with her first top-level success since marrying fellow rider Ben last month.

Rivellino to retain unbeaten record

In Sydney the feature race is the seventh race of the day, the $2,000,000 Inglis Millennium, an 1100m event restricted to two-year-olds.

Anthony & Sam Freedman are set to saddle Price Tag here, with the filly having registered three good efforts without winning so far.

The daughter of Zoustar has raced in Listed or Group 3 company on each occasion, including when runner-up in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview over 1000m at Sandown last month.

The youngster was beaten one-and-a-half-lengths by the smart looking newcomer My Gladiola, who is also set to run here.

Tyler Schiller’s mount had the remainder of the field held on that occasion and she holds obvious claims in this event.

However, preference on this occasion is for the once-raced Too Darn Hot colt RIVELLINO.

Trained by Kris Lees, the colt took out a barrier trial at Rosehill in December prior to making the perfect start to his career when successful over 1000m here early last month.

The 5.50 pick raced behind the early speed, having been crowded at the start that day, and he asserted in the straight going on to score by nearly two lengths.

The runner-up The Magic Man is set to oppose here, but he has something to find against Rivellino, who is expected to appreciate the extra 100m he tackles here.

Barrier 16 isn’t ideal in this contest, but the selection has a top hoop in James McDonald up and is taken to maintain his unbeaten record.

Begg charge set for Rubiton glory

The sixth race at Caulfield is the 1100m Group 2 Rubiton Stakes expected to be held on a good 4 track.

Trainer Grahame Begg’s horses have been going well of late and MAHARBA is taken to deliver a victory from barrier five.

The gelding registered a second-up win when successful by a narrow margin in Flemington’s Group 3 G.H. Mumm Rising Fast Stakes over 1200m at the start of November.

The 3.60 selection went on to finish a good second when contesting the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot at the end of that month.

Spelled following that effort, the four-year-old prepped for this contest with a third in a barrier trial over 800m at Cranbourne earlier this month.

The son of Pride Of Dubai has regular rider Jordan Childs up once more and looks set to making the perfect start to his 2025 campaign.