The Group 1 C F Orr Stakes was once an autumn starting point for horses returning from the spring.
It was run at Sandown and winners included Melbourne Cup victors Let’s Elope (1992) and At Talaq (1987) before the race shifted to Caulfield with Saintly winning in 1997.
After Saintly’s victory, three-year-olds won the next six in a row – Special Dane, Grand Archway, Redoute’s Choice, Desert Sky, Barkada and Yell – while All Too Hard (2013) and Alabama Express (2020) have also been successful for that age group.
The latest edition on Saturday sees three-year-old Lightsaber trying to etch his name into the record books while providing trainer Peter Moody a sixth victory after wins with Typhoon Tracy (2010 & 11), Black Caviar (2012), Moment Of Change (2014) and Dissident (2015).
Lightsaber is a previous winner over Saturday’s course and distance taking out the Group 3 Guineas Prelude last September and will have Blaike Mcdougall in the saddle.
“I’m looking forward to giving him his chance,” Moody said.
“He’s a three-year-old taking on the older horses. He’s in good order and it will give us a realistic guide where he sits in the food chain.
“After Saturday, do we look at the Futurity Stakes (1400m, February 26) and the All-Star Mile (1600m, March 19), or do we come back a peg to lesser three-year-old races.”
Lightsaber has had one run back after a break, finishing third to Marabi in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on January 29.
Moody said Lightsaber had trained on well from that effort where he was flushed out early and peaked on his run 50m from the finish.
“It’s obviously a bit step up in grade, weight-for-age and Group 1, but he’s in good order,” Moody said.
“He’s grown mentally. Physically, he’s always been an imposing horse, but mentally it’s more important, especially going into these races.”