Australia: Recency gives Jaquinot edge in Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes

The benefit of a recent group stakes win gives Jacquinot a slight edge over a formidable group of rivals in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Sandown Park in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday evening.

The $519,000 Orr Stakes is the first Group 1 of 2023 in Australia.

Jacquinot, a Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old, won the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens last September, and was later fifth in the Everest Stakes at six furlongs and ninth of 17 in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at six furlongs on Oct. 29 in his final start of 2022.

Trained by the partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr., Jacquinot rebounded to win the Group 3 Manfred Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Sandown on Jan. 26 for his fourth win in his ninth start.

Jacquinot is the lone 3-year-old in a field of 10 that includes the Group 1 winners – Aegon, Callsign Mav, I’m Thunderstruck, Mr Brightside, and Tuvalu. None of them have raced since early December.

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I’m Thunderstruck, trained by Price and Kent, won the Group 1 Makybe Diva at a mile at Flemington Racecourse in September and was later second in the Group 1 Cox Plate at 1 1/4 miles, Australia’s leading weight-for-age race. The Orr Stakes is I’m Thunderstruck’s first start since a fifth-place finish against a strong field in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington on Nov. 5.

Mr Brightside, who won the Group 1 Doncaster Mile last April, has not raced since he finished third in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes at a mile at Flemington on Nov. 5. Tuvalu was second in that field in his latest appearance.

Gentleman Roy was fourth behind Tuvalu in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at a mile in October, but did win the listed Barton Stakes at seven furlongs at Sandown on Jan. 26. A winner of 8 of 16 starts, Gentleman Roy will play an important role in the Orr Stakes as a pacesetter.

The Orr Stakes is part of a nine-race program that begins at 8:35 p.m. Eastern or 5:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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