The top two fancies in early Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes 2017 betting have suffered an early blow drawn wide in the official field and barriers for the Caulfield Group 1 this weekend.

Black Heart Bart is favourite in 2017 CF Orr Stakes betting this weekend despite his wide draw for the Group 1 race at Caulfield. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

Kicking off elite level racing for 2017, the $500,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) is set to run as Caulfield Race 7 at 4:05pm (AEDT) on Saturday afternoon.

A final field of 12 Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival contenders face off including the first two past the post first-up on January 27 in Moonee Valley’s Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m).

The Peter Gelagotis-trained Malaguerra, winner of last spring’s Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington, was the dominant two length Australia Stakes winner over Darren Weir’s three-time Group 1 champ Black Heart Bart.

The two gun gallopers will do battle again on Saturday, but have work to do from out wide in the Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes field.

Weir’s Blackfriars six-year-old and Caulfield track specialist boasting three wins and a second from four previous runs at the course, Black Heart Bart will start from barrier 11 with Brad Rawiller retaining the ride.

Team Gelagotis’s Magnus five-year-old Malaguerra is one wider in barrier 12 for jockey Ben Melham to overcome as the Moe-trained gelding chases his third win from seven starts at 1400m.

Black Heart Bart will improve off the Australia Stakes getting out over the extra metres having a strong 1400m record of six wins and four seconds from 11 starts, but Malaguerra also shouldn’t be written off over the distance according to his trainers.

In CF Orr Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au the firming favourite is Black Heart Bart ($3.80), while Malaguerra is at $4.60 to enjoy his second win this time in.

Weir has also accepted for Lucky Hussler drawn in gate four and out to improve on his Magic Millions Cup seventh from January along with Palentino (7).

A seven-year-old son of Husson, Lucky Hussler has plenty of Caulfield form (5-2-2-0) and races at the track for the first time since his second to Suavito in the CF Orr Stakes results from last February.

He also enjoyed a Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) win over a mile at the track in October of 2015 so cannot be discounted.

Palentino is second-up on Saturday, the four-year-old Teofilo stallion coming off a fourth in the Australia Stakes beaten five lengths.

He has had three Caulfield runs so far without a top three finish, but has the class to overcome his record at the track having defeated Black Heart Bart by a length to win Flemington’s Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) last September.

Leon & Troy Corstens will saddle-up the always-underrated Awesome Rock first-up from a nice barrier three draw in the CF Orr, the Fastnet Rock five-year-old chasing his second official Group 1 win.

He took out the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last time out in November, and is definitely more of a Flemington horse.

Caulfield is the danger for Awesome Rock who, from nine starts at the track, has one second and three thirds but no wins.

Caulfield Cup winning mare Jameka, Caulfield Guineas champ last time out Divine Prophet and Chris Waller’s import Arod are among the other key CF Orr Stakes acceptors.

Check out the full Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes 2017 final field, barriers and jockeys below before heading along to race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au for the best odds and offers on the race.

2017 Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Caulfield Race 7 (4:05pm) – 11/02/2017