Miss Finland, the best three-year-old filly in Australia, is racing in the shadow of two champions when she contests the $302,000 C.F.Orr Stakes at Caulfield tomorrow.

She would join Manikato as the only Golden Slipper Stakes winner to graduate to success in the Orr Stakes and she would join Surround (and Grand Archway) as only the third filly in the past 60 years to win the Orr Stakes.

Manikato, unchallenged as Australia's champion sprinter in the late 1970s and early 1980s, won the Orr Stakes as a three-year in 1978. He won the race again in 1979 and 1980 - a "threepeat" that was equalled by Vo Rogue (1988 to 1990).

Surround was clearly the best filly of her era. Her wins included the VRC Oaks, Wakeful Stakes, Caulfield Guineas and the Cox Plate - a feat no other filly has achieved.

Miss Finland is the only filly in the final line-up of 11 in the Orr Stakes - a field described by Caulfield trainer Tony Vasil as the "Cox Plate for sprinters" before opting for an easier challenge for his three-year-old star colt Haradasun.

Haradasun will run against rivals his own age in the $100,000 Wellington Racing Club Stakes (1400m.).

There are seven Group 1 winners in the Orr Stakes line-up - Tawqeet, Honor in War, El Segundo, Casual Pass, Niconero, Seachange and Miss Finland.

And three reigning Melbourne Racing Club  "titleholders" are in the field - BMW Caulfield Cup winner Tawqeet, Vinery Stud 1000 Guineas winner Miss Finland and Sandown Classic winner Gallant Guru.

Toss into the mix the rising star from the West, Marasco, who has won seven of his 11 starts (the past three at Listed level); Pompeii Ruler, winner of five of his nine starts with a second in the Yalumba Stakes and third in the Cox Plate at his past two runs and Aqua D'amore (third in Turnbull Stakes, second in Caulfield Cup, fourth in Cox Plate and third in the Mackinnon stakes at past four runs) to make the talent-rich race complete.

Ralph Manning, trainer of New Zealand's top mare Seachange, will fly into Melbourne tomorrow with a warning for rival trainers. "My mare is ready to give them a fright," he said. "She is always competitive and is in peak condition."

Seachange has won three races at Group 1 level in New Zealand.

Two-year-old hopefuls for the $1,015,000 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes on February 24 are well represented in the $125,750 Preludes on Saturday.

Fields for the colts and geldings division include top contenders Victory Chant, Deferential, Shrewd Rhythm and Zizou. The fillies list includes reigning favourite Miss Lucille, Behind and Press The Button.

The Club's General Manager - Racecourses, Jason Kerr said Caulfield's track today was rated Dead 4. There had been no rain for the week and 42 mm of irrigation had been applied to the track. The rail is in the true position and fine weather is forecast.

• Gai Waterhouse trained sprinter Dance Hero will gallop between races five and six. Dance Hero, winner of 10 of his 26 starts including the 2004 Golden Slipper Stakes, has earned more than $3.8 million in prize money. His preparation is aimed at the Newmarket Handicap to be run this year at Caulfield on March 10. Stephen Baster will ride Dance Hero in the gallop out of the 1200 metre chute to the winning post.

MRC Media Release Published 08/02/07