THE three-day Caulfield Festival of Racing commences on Saturday with C.F Orr Stakes Day and the day promises to deliver first-class racing action.

The Group 1 Festival of Racing action continues at Caulfield after C.F Orr Stakes Day with Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes Day on 20 February and concludes a week later on 27 February with Futurity Stakes Day, featuring the Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes (1600m) which is the first leg of the 2010 Asian Mile Challenge.

The feature race this Saturday, the $402,000 Group 1 Sportingbet Orr Stakes, has attracted an outstanding list of 20 nominations, including nine horses who are already Group 1 winners.

In addition to the strong nominations for the Orr Stakes, the remainder of the programme is shaping as a first-class meeting with another five black-type races to complement the star-studded Orr Stakes nominations.

The Orr Stakes is a time-honored race on the Australian racing calendar and will be run for the 87th time this Saturday.

Mark Kavanagh’s now retired war horse, Maldivian won the Orr Stakes last year and in doing so added his name to the honour-roll of past winners such as Tobin Bronze (1967), Leilani (1975), Surround (1977), At Talaq (1987), Let’s Elope (1992), Jeune (1995), Saintly (1997), Redoute’s Choice (2000), Lonhro (2004), Elvstroem (2005) and El Segundo (2007) – and he also joins multiple winners and champions of the turf such as Lord, who won the race twice in 1959 & 1960 and Manikato (1979/80/81) and Vo Rogue (1988/89/90) who each won this race on three consecutive occasions.

Lord, Manikato and Vo Rogue are testament to the fact that history can repeat itself in this race and Kavanagh will be hoping for more of the same as he has nominated his stable star and Melbourne Cup hero from last Spring, Shocking, for his much anticipated return to racing.

Shocking is joined in the nominations for the Orr Stakes by a host of Group 1 winners who have combined to win 15 Group 1 races including Denman (Golden Rose), Heart of Dreams (Australian Guineas & Underwood Stakes), Littorio (Turnbull Stakes), Master O’Reilly (Caulfield Cup), Sirmione (Mackinnon Stakes and Australian Cup), Sniper’s Bullet (Stradbroke Handicap, Railway Stakes & Kingston Town Stakes), Typhoon Tracy (Coolmore Classic and Myer Classic) and Viewed (Melbourne Cup & Caulfield Cup).

A further highlight of the day will be the running of the two divisions of the $126,500 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Preludes (Group 3, 1100 metres) as the build-up to the 2010 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes continues.

Among the nominations for these two Group 3 races are the current favourites for the Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes in Secession and Beneteau whilst the two impressive winners of last Tuesday’s Blue Diamond Previews, Innocent Gamble and Crystal Lily, are also nominated.

Saturday is also the day for families to make their way to Caulfield for the Melbourne Racing Club’s Festival of Racing Family Day.

There will be entertainment on the front lawn between 12 noon and 4pm for children of all ages including:

• Pony Rides • Cup & Saucer

• Adrenalin Rush • Giant Surf Shack Slide

• Jumping Castle • Ferris Wheel

• Dodgeball • Balloon Artist

• Final Furlong Machine • Camp Australia activities

• Face painting

There will also be plenty of activities with Tennis Victoria, Netball Victoria and Auskick. There will even be the chance to meet some of the special guest players appearing on the day and loads of giveaways.

Children aged between 4-14 years can also enter the Mad Hatter Competition for the chance to win some exciting prizes.

C.F Orr Stakes Day will be televised live on free-to-air from 1pm to 4.30pm on Channel 9.

Admission on Saturday is for an adult is $15 and $10 for concession with children under 14, when accompanied by an adult, admitted free.

MELBOURNE RACING CLUB MEDIA RELEASE