Team Hawkes have included both Entirely Platinum and Toydini in the 2015 Orr Stakes field, but co-trainer Wayne Hawkes admits that he is unsure whether either galloper are genuine weight-for-age horses.
Entirely Platinum has the chance to record a maiden win at the highest level of racing in the 2015 Orr Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Toydini made his debut for Team Hawkes with a fast-finishing third behind Lucia Valentina in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) first-up during the spring, but he failed to fire at weight-for-age level in the George Main Stakes (1600m) and was disappointing in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 4.
Hawkes told Racing Ahead that Toydini had taken plenty of benefit from a lengthy spell and he believes that the Bernardini gelding can win the 2015 Orr Stakes if he reproduces his Tramway Stakes performance.
“First-up last prep he flew home and I think that he ran third,” Hawkes said.
“If he can produce that again he is going to be hard to beat.
“Whether he is a real weight-for-age horse I am not so sure.
“We have only had him for the one prep and Guy Walter formerly trained him.
“He has done everything right and he deserves his place in the race.”
Entirely Platinum has recorded two wins from his four first-up starts and Hawkes is optimistic that the Pentire gelding could surprise in the 2015 Orr Stakes on Saturday.
The five-year-old will be returning to Caulfield for the first time since he finished an unlucky second behind Gris Caro in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) last September and Hawkes believes that the Australian Cup hopeful can run a big race in the Orr Stakes if he gets some luck in running.
“Entirely Platinum is a pretty handy horse,” Hawkes said.
“He ran second at Caulfield and he probably should have won, albeit over 2000 in the Naturalism Stakes.
“I’m not sure that he is a weight-for-age horse, but he goes really well fresh and he is a sneaky little chance to run a big race.
“We won’t overtax him because to be fair he might end up being a Caulfield Cup hope later in the year.
“I am hoping that he has gone to another level.”
Entirely Platinum opened at 2015 Orr Stakes odds of $7.50 with Ladbrokes Australia, but has been on the drift out to $11, while Toydini has remained steady at his opening price of $21.
Peter Moody-trained Dissident ($3.20) is still on top of Orr Stakes betting markets from David Hayes-trained Petrology ($6.50), Manfred Stakes winner Java ($8) and imported galloper Spillway ($11).
