Group 1 racing is back in Melbourne on Saturday in the form of the Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes 2017, a detailed form guide analysis and betting preview for the Caulfield clash found below.

A dozen gallopers, all but a couple of which are proven Group 1 winners already, take to the track for Race 7 on Saturday afternoon in the weight-for-age $500,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m).

It is a gun line-up with plenty of stars that opted for an elite level run first-up in Victoria over a clash with returning glamour mare Winx in Sydney’s Apollo Stakes on the same day.

CF Orr Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is led by the likes of the widely-drawn duo of Malaguerra ($4.40) and Black Heart Bart ($3.80) who finished one-two last time out in the Group 1 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

They are the form runners and class gallopers in the race, but the barrier draw has shaken things up and the likes of the other Darren Weir-trained runner Lucky Hussler ($6.50) and Team Hawkes’ returning Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet ($8.50) are right in the mix.

That’s the story told by the bookies but what about the CF Orr Stakes form guide, betting history and race facts?

2017 Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes Form Facts & Betting Stats

• Last year’s CF Orr Stakes winner was the Nigel Blackiston-trained mare Suavito (2016) who jumped from barrier 1 (of 18) first-up with Luke Currie aboard for her win as a $15 outsider
• Suavito was the fourth CF Orr Stakes winning mare in seven years to win joining Typhoon Tracy (2010-11) and Black Caviar (2012)
• The mares in the mix this year are #10 Jameka ($17) and #11 Miss Rose de Lago ($26)
• Last year’s winning barrier (1) has produced two winners in the past decade and belongs on Saturday to #6 Arod ($14)
• The most successful CF Orr Stakes barrier (since 1983) with seven winners is gate one
• The other best barriers with six winners each in that time are four and five drawn this year by #3 Lucky Hussler (4) and #11 Miss Rose De Lago (5)
• Only two horses have won the CF Orr Stakes from wider than barrier nine in the past 10 years making it a tough task this year for: #10 Jameka (10), #1 Black Heart Bart (11) and #4 Malaguerra (12)
• The previous CF Orr Stakes winning trainers with a runner this year are: David Hayes (17-1-2-4) with #9 He’s Our Rokkii ($13) and John Hawkes (13-3-1-0) with #12 Divine Prophet ($8.50)
• #12 Divine Prophet is the only three-year-old in the CF Orr Stakes and the only winner of that age to take out the race since 2003 was All Too Hard (2013) who was also trained by Team Hawkes
• Five-year-olds have won four of the past six editions; the 5YOs in the line-up this year are: #2 Awesome Rock ($31), #4 Malaguerra ($4.40) and #5 Turn Me Loose ($31)
• The last seven-year-old CF Orr Stakes winner was Torbek back in 1983; this year #8 Ecuador and #3 Lucky Hussler will be out to break the drought
• The previous CF Orr Stakes winning jockeys with a ride this weekend are: Stephen Baster (9-1-0-3) on #2 Awesome Rock, Ben Melham (4-1-0-0) on #4 Malaguerra, Dwayne Dunn (9-1-1-1) on #12 Divine Prophet, Damien Oliver (18-2-5-0) on #11 Miss Rose De Lago and Luke Nolen (8-4-0-0) on #10 Jameka

• Favourites in CF Orr Stakes betting have an excellent record with six wins in the past seven years; favourites in the markets this year are #1 Black Heart Bart ($3.80) and #4 Malaguerra ($4.20)
• The Australia Stakes has produced four of the past six CF Orr Stakes winners; the Australia Stakes graduates in the race this season are: Malaguerra (1^st), Black Heart Bart (2^nd), Palentino (4^th) and Turn Me Loose (7^th)
• Black Caviar (2012) was the last horse to complete the Australia Stakes – CF Orr Stakes double that #4 Malaguerra chases this weekend

• The highest Win Rate of the field belongs to #4 Malaguerra (52%) followed by #12 Divine Prophet (43%) and #9 He’s Our Rokkii (41%)
• The best Place Rate of the field belongs to #1 Black Heart Bart (76%) followed by #12 Divine Prophet (71%)
• The runners with the best record at the distance (1400m) are: #1 Black Heart Bart (11-6-4-0), #8 Ecuador (7-4-2-0), #3 Lucky Hussler (17-3-3-1), #5 Turn Me Loose (6-2-1-1) and #9 He’s Our Rokkii (3-2-0-0)
• At the track (Caulfield) the hopefuls with the best winning record are: #11 Miss Rose De Lago (6-4-0-1), #1 Black Heart Bart (4-3-1-0), #9 He’s Our Rokkii (4-3-1-0), #10 Jameka (5-2-1-1) and #3 Lucky Hussler (5-2-2-0)

Stay tuned for our insider Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes 2017 betting tips to be published shortly.

In the meantime back your selections on the Group 1 at the right price through Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).