Nominations for the first Group 1 race for 2019 on Saturday, the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, is loaded with multiple Group 1 winners.

Land Of Plenty, above, is among the nominations for the 2019 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfiield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Land Of Plenty, above, is among the nominations for the 2019 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfiield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Past and present Darren Weir trained horses make up the twenty-two nominations with Fifty Stars and Whispering Brook still under the embattled trainer’s banner while Brave Smash will race for Kris Lees and Land Of Plenty will be prepared by the inform Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stables.

Former Western Australian trained mare Whispering Brook is the winner of  her last three starts for Weir, including her last start win in the Group 2 $200,000 Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on January 25.

Japanese import Brave Smash is a two times Group 1 winner while Land Of Plenty tasted Group 1 success for the first time with a win in the $500,000 Aquis Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2018 Spring Carnival.

Chris Waller has nominated two Group 1 winners, Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento and two times Group 1 winner Shillelagh.

Trainer James Cummings has a strong representation among the C.F. Orr Stakes nominations with Avilius, Best Of Days and Kementari while the Lindsay Park Team have nominated Group 1 sprinter Redkirk Warrior and the promising So Si Bon.

Early betting for the 2019 C.F. Orr Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Kementari, $5 Land Of Plenty, $7 Whipsering Brook, $11 Fifty Stars, $13 Avilius, D’Argento, Shillelagh, $14 Brave Smash, $16 Fell Swoop, $18 Redkirk Warrior, $21 Best Of Days, $31 Material Man, Moss ‘N’ Dale, $51 Ace High, Bring Me Roses, Holbien, $81 Manuel, Mask Of Time, $101 Missrock, Rock ‘N’ Gold, So Si Bon, Star Exhibit.

Nominations for the 2019 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m)

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 62x024100x ACE HIGH H 4 David Payne 109
2 26x111140x AVILIUS (GB) G 5 James Cummings 109
3 38x713211x BEST OF DAYS (GB) H 5 James Cummings 108
4 0x332818x9 BRAVE SMASH (JPN) H 6 Kris Lees 113
5 040x7428x7 BRING ME ROSES M 4 Tony McEvoy 98
6 714x32256x D’ARGENTO H 4 Chris Waller 107
7 0x598x5132 FELL SWOOP G 7 Matthew Dale 106
8 111x2211x6 FIFTY STARS (IRE) H 4 Darren Weir 98
9 x316936420 HOLBIEN G 4 Steve Richards 86
10 30x242439x KEMENTARI H 4 James Cummings 110
11 11x21314x3 LAND OF PLENTY H 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 110
12 1x361221x7 MANUEL G 5 Tony McEvoy 95
13 479741240x MASK OF TIME (IRE) H 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 97
14 21x111x32x MATERIAL MAN G 7 Justin Warwick 110
15 820×370945 MISSROCK M 5 Robbie Laing 99
16 716243111x MOSS ’N’ DALE (NZ) G 6 Peter Gelagotis 108
17 x11x00x0x5 REDKIRK WARRIOR (GB) G 8 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 116
18 5×00452151 ROCK ’N’ GOLD G 8 Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra 101
19 462x44415x SHILLELAGH (NZ) M 7 Chris Waller 110
20 93×5386412 SO SI BON G 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 98
21 L54x777051 STAR EXHIBIT G 7 Adam Durrant 105
22 0x1415x111 WHISPERING BROOK M 5 Darren Weir 109

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.