Resuming Ladbrokes Cox Plate champion Sir Dragonet is clear favourite first-up in the year’s opening elite level race when Group 1 racing kicks off with the C.F. Orr Stakes 2021 at Caulfield on Saturday.

Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet resumes racing in the 2021 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The field for this season’s Group 1 $500,000 Neds C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) is down to just nine starters with the early scratching of Fifty Stars, and markets are firming on the top fancies for the weight-for-age feature.

Top elect at CF Orr Stakes odds of $2.70 through Ladbrokes.com.au is the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained import Sir Dragonet drawn ideally in barrier three with Glen Boss aboard.

The Irish-bred Camelot entire hit the headlines in the spring winning his Australian race debut in style when Boss guided him to a big win in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley.

He was brave second-up going up to the two miles in the iconic Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when sixth, under four lengths beaten by the winner Twilight Payment, and races for the first time since on Saturday.

Sir Camelot reunites with Boss for just his third Australian start and, while the five-year-old is yet to win over less than 2040m, he is firm favourite to salute at 1400m in the Orr after a winning Geelong trial from late January.

Occupying the second line of CF Orr Stakes betting this Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival at $3.80 is the Lindsay Park-trained Crosshaven drawn one wider in gate four for jockey Daniel Stackhouse.

A consistent three-year-old son of Smart Missile, Crosshaven has won five of his seven starts ahead of the Group 1 test against the older horses this weekend.

He is two-from-two at 1400m and won the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) here last September.

Crosshaven was far from disgraced when fourth to Ole Kirk after that in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), his run hampered from a wide barrier (14 of 14).

Quick to atone, the untapped youngster saluted on VRC Derby Day at Flemington winning the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) and is also first-up on Saturday off a winning Geelong hit-out from January 28.

In an open market, a further two runners are under $10 to win with the always-honest Chris Waller-trained Imaging ($6.50) and the in-form Streets Of Avalon ($7.50) drawn gates nine and eight respectively.

Jockey Craig Williams chases his second CF Orr Stakes success in four years following his 2018 victory aboard Hartnell, while Waller is after his maiden win in the event.

A noted first-up performer (7:2-2-1), six-year-old Imaging gets his autumn campaign underway in the Orr racing for the first time since his third to Gytrash at Rosehill in the $1 million Winners Stakes (1300m) run in the wet last October.

The European expat hasn’t won a race since the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) on a Heavy (9) at Rosehill in March last year, and the CF Orr sees him race in Melbourne for the first time.

Jockey Zac Spain rides the fit horse in the Orr field this season aboard the Shane Nichols-trained Magnus gelding Streets Of Avalon.

Something of a Caulfield track specialist (21:4-4-3), the galloper was impressive last start at The Valley on January 22 defeating Viridine by one and three-quarter lengths in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m).

Click here for the latest C.F. Orr Stakes 2021 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 C.F. Orr Stakes Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.