A Closer Look for Real Punters – Orr Stakes

Posted on November 12, 2026November 12, 2026 | Posted by TABtouch

Brad Bishop takes a look at Victoria’s final Group 1 of the Spring Carnival, brought to you by TABtouch.

There is not a lot to work with in the C F Orr Stakes from a historical sense given the 1400-metre event is in only its second year at the back end of the Spring Carnival.

There is even less to work with given this year’s host venue for the $1 million Group 1.

The Orr Stakes heads to Sandown for the first time since February 1996 with Caulfield out of action due to a rack renovation.

That presents the two most dominant trainer in Australia with a chance to tick off a career first.

Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher have almost 300 Group 1 victories between them, but none have been secured at Sandown.

Mind you, they don’t get much of a chance.

This year’s Orr Stakes will be just the eighth Group 1 race run at Sandown in the 21st century.

It is the second of this spring behind the Moir Stakes, which was won by the John McArdle-trained My Gladiola in early September.

The Moir was run on the Hillside track, the stage for this week’s race, which also hosted the Underwood Stakes in 2021 and 2022, won by Zaaki (Annabel Archibald) and Alligator Blood (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott), while Jacquinot’s (Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr) Orr Stakes win in 2023 was also on the Hillside track.

The Lakeside track played host to the Blue Diamond meeting in 2023, where the winners were Little Brose (Ben, Will and JD Hayes), Uncommon James (Steve O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted) and Alligator Blood.

Waller did not have a runner in any of those races.

A Champions Day double with Autumn Glow and Birdman took his Group 1 tally to 2013, wins that have been secured across 12 different tracks.

Maher has won 70 Group 1 races at nine different venues.

Maher no stranger to Orr Stakes success, having won the past two editions, but a rare Group 1 that doesn’t feature Waller’s name on the honour roll.

The champion Sydney trainer is a big chance to rectify that this year with his three-time Group 1 winner Beiwacht heading the TABtouch market at $3.20, while stablemate Angel Capital is at $5.

Maher’s hope in the race is defending champion Jimmysstar, a $4.80 chance, who is aiming to join some big names as multiple winners of the race that was first run in 1925.

Hall of Famers Manikato (1979-81) and Vo Rogue (1988-90) both won three-straight editions, while Lord (159/60) and Typhoon Tracy (2010/11) are the only dual winners.