Saturday preview: Six things to keep an eye on

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Golden Grove - Inglis Classic Draft 2025

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G1 C.F Orr Stakes - Australia's first Group 1 race for 2025

Lord (NZ) (Targui {Fr}), Manikato (Manihi), Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince {USA}) and Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}); it is quite an illustrious list of horses to have taken out more than one running of the G1 C.F Orr Stakes and it is a feat being chased on Saturday by the marvellous galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars).

He took out the historic 100th running of the race 12 months ago, showing plenty of heart wearing down Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) having run a close-up fifth in the same race the year before.

On both occasions he was first up in the Orr having run well in the G1 Champions Mile (Cantala Stakes) and the G1 W.S Cox Plate at his two previous outings.

Should he salute again, Mr Brightside will provide Craig Williams with a third Orr; he was aboard the same horse last year and on Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) in 2018.

Lindsay Park also boast a good record in the race, David Hayes successful with Planet Ruler (Kaoru Star) in 1991, Primacy (Prego {Ire}) in 1994 and Jeune (GB) in 1995.

Colin Hayes also secured several Orr trophies; with At Talaq (USA) in 1987, Delightful Belle (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}) in 1986, Fine Offer (NZ) (Amyntor {Fr}) in 1985 and Fileur (NZ) (Le Filou {Fr}) in 1969.

The 101st C.F Orr is its 33rd running as a Group 1 race though even prior to its deserved upgrade it was always a high quality race, one which at different times has been run at Williamstown, Moonee Valley, Sandown and now Caulfield.

It is a race yet to be won by either Ciaron Maher or Chris Waller who both hope to change that come Saturday, the former represented by the second favourite Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) as well by Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) and Semana (Winning Rupert) whilst Waller saddles up last spring's G1 Caulfield Guineas hero Private Life (Written Tycoon).

Adding interest to the race are the interstate visitors Freedom Rally (Rubick) and Super Smink (Super One).

New Zealand's Group 1 weight-for-age gallopers: the Herbie Dyke Stakes

With prize money increases over the last couple of years, the G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes continues attract good fields with this year's running seeing Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald represented by their first New Zealand runner.

A 2000m weight-for-age contest won last year by the previous year's G1 Australian Guineas winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), the Herbie Dyke has had a few names but has always been a good race; upgraded to its current elite level status in 1992.

Legarto is joined by a number of high class gallopers who have won this race as well as Group 1's in Australia; such as Giovana (NZ) (Blues Traveller {Ire}), Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel), Volkstok'N'Barrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), The Phantom (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), Shivaree (NZ) (Sharivari {USA}) and Oopik (NZ) (St Puckle {GB}).

As well as three G1 W.S Cox Plate winners; The Phantom Chance (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), Bonecrusher (NZ) (Pag Asa) and Battle Heights (NZ) (Battle-Waggon {GB}).

Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald's the tough import Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) has been three times Group 1 placed over this trip and is certainly deserving of a breakthrough at the highest level.

Hardest for the visitor to beat will be the tough, classy and consistent mare La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) and the last start five length Listed Fulton Family Stakes winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking).

New Zealand's Group 1 weight-for-age sprinters: the BCD Group Sprint

The 1400m G1 BCD Group Sprint is another race with a history of being won by outstanding gallopers; the race registered as the Waikato Sprint having on its honour roll the likes of Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}), Veandercross (NZ) (Crossways {GB}), Our Poetic Prince, Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), Melody Belle (Commands), Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), Mr Tiz (Bletchingly), Western Red (NZ) and Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).

All of those fine gallopers also won Group 1 races in Australia and other winners include Xtravagant (NZ), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Levante (NZ) (Proisir), Courier Bay (NZ) (Diplomatic Agent {USA}), Snap (NZ) (Kingdom Bay {NZ}), Tit For Taat (NZ) (Faltaat {USA}) and Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

The Australian visitors Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) and Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) are strongly fancied, both seeking their maiden Group 1 victories whilst the locals to have already won at the elite level are bound to again make their presence felt.

Gallery: Well-fancied Australian contenders, both aiming for their first Group 1 victories

Such as Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) who has drawn better than he did when getting a fair way back in the G1 Sistema Stakes, Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) who is ready for another crack at 1400m and the favourite Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).

She has been racing in flying form, at her last two starts taking out the G1 Telegraph Handicap in which she raced away to a dominant 2 1/2 length victory and last spring's G1 Tarzino Trophy whish she also won in easy style.

Xtravagant was the last three-year-old to prove too good for his rivals in this race and that age group is represented by the last start R-Listed Magic Millions 3Y0 Guineas winner Bosustow and the exciting local Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) who has won his last four including the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

The Melbourne 2-year-olds: the Blue Diamond Preludes

The two Blue Diamond Preludes; the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude C&G and the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude Fillies, take place at Caulfield on Saturday and they see the first and second favourites for the big race taking on their own genders.

Impressive racing away to an easy win at Ballarat late last year, Godolphin's Aleppo Pine (Blue Point {Ire}) is favourite on Saturday and second favourite for the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes.

Looking good with an easy jump-out win on The Heath course at Caulfield, he seeks to become the fourth stakes winner for his high achieving dam Retsina (Redoute's Choice) who has already produced the Group 2 winners Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) and Vilana (Hallowed Crown) as well as the dual Listed winner Athiri (Lonhro) who ran third in a G2 Blue Diamond Prelude and fourth in the Blue Diamond.

The G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) also resumes off good jump-out form and the form around the Moonee Valley debut winner Field Of Play (Deep Field) is solid.

The highest priced runner amongst the boys is the $1.4 million Magic Millions graduate Devil Night (Extreme Choice), a half-brother to the dual Group 3 winner Our Playboy (Sebring) out of a half-sister to Pierata.

Two first season sires are represented; Wootton Bassett (GB) by the Listed Blue Diamond Preview C&G runner-up Yamashita's Gold and Farnan by Olatunde who raced greenly when fifth in that same race.

The Blue Diamond favourite My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) opened at a very short price in the fillies division. Several of those she left behind at her stunning debut in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview Fillies again take her on including Wiltshire Square (Wootton Basset {GB}), Miss Celine (Magnus) and Palm Angel (Starspangledbanner) who all ran nicely finishing third, fourth and fifth.

Wootton Bassett is joined by King's Legacy (La Reine), Bivouac (Expulsion and Exit), Hanseatic (Melrose) and Earthlight (Ire) (Queen Christine) as first season sires with runners.

Exit is the race's most expensive purchase, the $675,000 Magic Millions filly who hails from the prolific "Discreet" family.

The Sydney 2-year-olds: the Lonhro Plate & Inglis Millennium

There is also plenty of juvenile action in Sydney, everyone keen to see who steps forward as we edge closer to the running of the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes.

Bivouac broke his maiden in the Listed Lonhro Plate race six years ago and has two runners representing him; Beiwacht who has drawn better than he did when sitting wide at debut and Benevac who debuts off a Kembla Grange trial win.

He is one of just two first season sires with runners in this race, Anders the other; his daughter Lady Talea one of the outsiders of the field.

Gallery: Horses representing their sire Bivouac, images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

A seven figure yearling debuts here, Kerber (I Am Invincible) being a $1.15 million Magic Millions full sister to In Secret and this year's $2.3 Magic Millions filly.

Extractor (Spirit Of Boom) has good form lines off a strong finishing Golden Gift third at debut, Bellazaine (Zousain) resumes having won two Randwick trials and Chergui (Frosted {USA}), a half-brother to Alizee (Sepoy) and Astern was also good at his first start whilst Anarchist (Exceed And Excel) out of the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) is a two time trial winner.

The R-Listed Inglis Millennium is the second juvenile feature on the Randwick card. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Regan Bayliss combination is seeking consecutive wins in the $2 million race, successful last year with Fully Lit (Hellbent) whilst this year Cobra Club (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) is a leading fancy.

The aptly named Price Tag (Zoustar) is the race's priciest purchase, secured for $600,000 at Easter. She is also race favourite having run so well behind the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes favourite My Gladiola last time out.

In addition to Cool Aza Beel, several first season sires have runners; Graff (Grafterburners), Time To Reign (Crown The King), Lucky Vega (Ire) (Within The Law) and King's Legacy (Kujenga and Open Secret).

The most strongly fancied of those horses is Within The Law who has won restricted Listed races in Melbourne and Sydney at her first two starts whilst another nice type being kept safe is Rivellino (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who showed a good turn of foot when winning at his Randwick debut in early January.

The 3-year-olds: Melbourne, Sydney and Te Rapa

There is plenty of 3-year-old action on Saturday with nice races at Caulfield, Randwick and Te Rapa.

Won by the likes of Centaine, Canny Lad, Apache Cat (Lion Cavern {USA}), Denman and Microphone, the G2 Autumn Stakes contested over 1400m is the seventh race on the Caulfield card.

Two talented horses are vying for favouritism; the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes winner Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who was last seen contesting the G1 W.S Cox Plate and the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}).

Rounding up the big day at Caulfield is the G3 Peter le Grand Stakes, an 1100m dash for fillies.

Gallery: Two horses vying for favouritism in the G2 Autumn Stakes, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

This was the first stakes race won by Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) who was go on to earn Horse Of The Year honours whilst Absolut Glam (Snowland) and Booker (Written Tycoon) also enjoyed Group 1 success after winning this race.

The petite but tough Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}) looks hard to beat on her excellent Queensland form and her recent Geelong trial second to Mr Brightside whilst others who look to have come up well judging on their jump-outs and trials include Drifting (Zousain), Tobeornottobe (Pierata) and Certain Rise (Written Tycoon).

Another race with a number of subsequent Group 1 winners on its honour roll is the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes, a 1200m race taken out by Quick Flick (Spectacular Spy {USA}), Spark Of Life (Nine Carat {USA}), Kementari and Paulele.

First up after running well in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington is the favourite Gatsby's (Snitzel). Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) has also shown plenty of talent and others expected to run well include the G1 Golden Rose placegetter Mayfair (Fastnet Rock), the consistent Just Party (Justify {USA}), the G1 Caulfield Guineas fifth placed Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) and G1 Flight Stakes third placegetter Snow In May (The Autumn Sun).

There are two feature events for the 3-year-olds in New Zealand, both run over 2000m; the G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Stakes and the G2 Waikato Guineas.

The flying Leica Lucy is an odds-on favourite in the first of those races whilst also short in the market in the Guineas is Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) who is enjoying an excellent debut campaign.