Last year’s champion, Mr Brightside, is back as the favourite for a successful first-up title defence in the 2025 CF Orr Stakes as we welcome in the opening Group 1 race of the year at Caulfield on Saturday.

The punters will be keen to see the return of WFA hero Mr Brightside who heads a small but stellar field of 10 autumn hopefuls in this year’s Group 1 $750,000 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) field.
Team Hayes’ seven-year-old son of Bullbars has career earnings sitting just shy of $17 million and was in typically ace form last campaign including his Group 1 Champions Mile win at Flemington last time out.
Mr Brightside is a solid first-up performer (8:3-2-1) and his record at the Caulfield track is imposing (9:5-3-0).
At this course and distance, he is a star (6:5-1-0) including completing the CF Orr – Futurity Stakes double here last autumn.
Typhoon Tracy (2010-11) was the last back-to-back Orr winner and Mr B can certainly be the next.
Current CF Orr Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au have Mr Brightside at $2.50.
The danger occupying the second line of CF Orr Stakes betting this season at $4.40 is the Ciaron Maher trained Another Wil.
Another runner with a great 1400 Caulfield strike rate (3:2-1-0) the five-year-old Street Boss gelding races for the first time since his narrow second in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes here in the spring.
A noted first-up performer, Another Wil won as the first-up favourite last preparation defeating Here To Shock with a hefty 60.5kg in a Benchmark 100 last August, and he looks right in this contest.
Other CF Orr contenders at single figures looking to upset Mr Brightside include Schwarz ($6.50) for John O’Shea & Tom Charlton and the rails drawn Private Life ($8.50) for the Chris Waller stable.
Schwarz is a multiple Group 2 winning Zoustar four-year-old with the entire putting the writing on the wall winning the Australia Stakes at The Valley by two lengths in a stylish resuming run in late January.
Written Tycoon colt Private Life meanwhile is out to be the second three-year-old in three years to officially claim the race after the protest victory by Jacquinot in 2023.
The Caulfield Guineas champion was last seen running a nice fifth only 1.22 lengths beaten in the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) over the Melbourne Cup Carnival and will benefit from whatever he brings to the track on Saturday.
The 2025 CF Orr Stakes is scheduled to run as Caulfield Race 9 at 4:55pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card.
CF Orr Stakes 2025 Odds & Results
C.F. Orr Stakes (G1)
Runner Details | Win | Place |
---|---|---|
1st
5. Another Wil (3)
J: Jamie Melham 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
2nd
1. Mr Brightside (8)
J: Craig Williams 59kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
||
3rd
4. Steparty (4)
J: Blaike McDougall 59kg
T: Paul Preusker |
||
4th
10. Private Life (1)
J: Damian Lane 55.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
5th
8. Semana (9)
J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
6th
2. Southport Tycoon (2)
J: Mark Zahra 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
7th
9. Super Smink (5)
J: John Allen 57kg
T: Daniel Morton |
||
8th
6. Freedom Rally (6)
J: Ethan Brown 59kg
T: Tony Gollan |
||
9th
3. Pinstriped (10)
J: Ben Allen 59kg
T: Enver Jusufovic |
||
10th
7. Schwarz (7)
J: Blake Shinn 59kg
T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton |
Data retrieved: 12/02/2025 08:10:12 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.