The Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes 2018 is the likely first-up option for Nick Olive’s Caulfield Cup runner-up Single Gaze who was put through her paces in a strong piece of work on Wednesday.

Gun mare Single Gaze targets the 2018 Australian Cup third-up at Flemington this March. Photo: Steve Hart.
The five-year-old daughter of Not A Single Doubt officially trialled at her home Canberra track back on January 19 for a 1000m winning hit-out and was impressive again in her midweek jumpout.
“It went super, I couldn’t be happier with her,” Olive told Racing Victoria on Wednesday.
“She jumped well, just travelled up behind the leading bunch, and then finished outside the leader to finish off. It was a really good jumpout.
“She’s right on target for where we want her to be. Great jumpout.”
A $2 million earner, Single Gaze is now likely to kick off her autumn campaign as early as February 10 at Caulfield Racecourse in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Or Stakes (1400m).
“She’ll have a gallop next Tuesday, and she’ll be into the C.F. Orr first-up,” Olive confirmed.
“She just had five weeks in the paddock – I didn’t know if we’d get an autumn campaign into her.
“It was such an arduous campaign last time, but she just did so well and has come back super, so she’s given us the feel she’s improved again.”
That will be her first start since a failed 17th to Rekindling in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) last November, which followed her brave second to Boom Time in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) over the mile and a half.
Single Gaze hasn’t won a race since June of last year in Brisbane’s Group 2 PJ O’Shea Stakes (2200m), while she is best known for her Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) success at Rosehill in March of 2016.
Olive remains confident the mare can post another elite level success and has Single Gaze nominated for the Group 1 $1.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on ‘Super Saturday’, March 10.
The 2018 Australian Cup is likely to come third-up with the Group 2 $200,000 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Stakes Day, February 24, to follow the CF Orr Stakes.
The Peter Young Stakes has produced three of the past four Australian Cup winners, but the last mare to beat home the boys in the Group 1 weight-for-age was Makybe Diva back in 2005.
A winner of only one of her four previous first-up assignments, Single Gaze is currently listed as an $11 chance in CF Orr Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to return with a win.
The Darren Weir-trained Japanese import Tosen Stardom ($4.50) and his stablemate, the reigning CF Orr Stakes winner Black Heart Bart ($5), lead all-in CF Orr Stakes betting along with Hartnell ($5.50).
All-in Australian Cup odds meanwhile list Single Gaze as a $26 roughie to break the mares’ hoodoo.
Single Gaze is also likely to target dual Group 1 races during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival with both the $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 24 and $1.5 million The BMW (2400m) the following Saturday on the radar.
To back Single Gaze at the hottest autumn racing odds over the coming months head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.