Manikato, Vo Rogue and the Rich History of the C.F. Orr Stakes

Kristen Manning

Editor

Last updated: Fri. 13 Nov. 2026 02:09

Kristen Manning 13 Nov. 2026

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The C.F. Orr Stakes returns to Sandown in 2026
Manikato and Vo Rogue each claimed three famous victories
The historic Group 1 has been staged at five Melbourne racecourses

The C.F. Orr Stakes returns to Sandown in 2026, continuing a remarkable century-long history. (Getty)

There is a unique piece of history attached to the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes, the $1 million 1400m contest staged at Sandown on Saturday.

The Travelling Group 1
Manikato's Remarkable Three-Peat
Comparisons With the Great Tulloch
Go Vo Go - A New Orr Stakes Hero
Vo Rogue Vs Super Impose

First run in 1925 and won by Cox Plate winner and successful stallion The Night Patrol, the race was named after the chairman of the Williamstown Racing Club and remained at that venue until 1940.

Commandeered by the army during World War II, Williamstown never hosted another race meeting. With Caulfield also out of action during the war, the Orr Stakes was transferred to Moonee Valley and Flemington.

Caulfield became the race's home in the post-war years before the Orr moved to the newly established Sandown racecourse in 1966.

There have been several changes since, including a return to Caulfield and a shift from the autumn to the end of Melbourne's spring carnival. On Saturday, the race returns to Sandown.

The Travelling Group 1

Williamstown, Caulfield, Moonee Valley, Flemington and Sandown — the C.F. Orr Stakes has certainly travelled.

It has been contested at all four of Melbourne's current metropolitan racecourses, a remarkable distinction for one of Australian racing's most historic events.

Its honour roll is equally impressive, featuring champions such as Heroic, Flight, Comic Court, Lord, Wenona Girl, Aquanita, Tobin Bronze, Leilani, Surround, Hyperno, Let's Elope, Saintly, Redoute's Choice, Lonhro, Elvstroem, Typhoon Tracy and Black Caviar.

Yet two names stand above the rest in Orr Stakes folklore.

Manikato and Vo Rogue each won the race three times, creating two extraordinary chapters in the history of the famous Group 1.

Manikato's Remarkable Three-Peat

Manikato's original trainer, Bon Hoysted, died in 1978, leaving his brother Bob to take charge of a horse who had already captured the Blue Diamond Stakes and Golden Slipper Stakes.

For all he had achieved, Manikato's greatest performances were still ahead of him.

He had been beaten just once in his five starts leading into the 1979 Orr Stakes and, as was so often the case, started at odds-on.

Bob Hoysted was brimming with confidence, with author Adam Crettenden recounting in his book how the trainer told jockey Gary Willetts: "I've got him in the best shape I can possibly have him in... nothing will beat him."

The older horses proved no match for Manikato, who led throughout to claim his first Orr Stakes by two lengths before a crowd of 18,000.

"I put no pressure on him at all," Willetts declared. "Who knows what I could have won by?! He is the best horse I have ridden and I still don't know how good he is."

Comparisons With the Great Tulloch

"Of all the three-year-olds I've seen," Hoysted said, "I think Tulloch was the only one who would have beaten him today."

Twelve months later, Manikato returned with another outstanding campaign behind him, having recorded five wins from nine starts, along with a stirring second to Dulcify over 2000m in the Australian Cup.

In preparation for his second Orr Stakes, Manikato produced the fastest 1000m gallop ever recorded at Epsom, working alongside another talented galloper in Scamanda.

Again sent out at odds-on, Manikato had Hyperno for company until the 200m before asserting his superiority and racing clear for another two-length victory.

The champion subsequently endured a lengthy interruption to his career after bleeding during the running of The Galaxy.

He was absent from the racetrack for nine months before returning with victory in the third of his remarkable five William Reid Stakes triumphs.

His next Orr Stakes success, however, would be anything but straightforward.

With Willetts' saddle slipping slightly during the race, Manikato became locked in a thrilling battle with My Brown Jug over the final 200m.

Twice My Brown Jug attempted to savage his rival, making contact with Willetts on the second occasion.

"He nearly took my arm off! I've never seen that happen in a race before anywhere, let alone a big race," Willetts recalled.

It was a dramatic way to secure a third C.F. Orr Stakes victory, further cementing Manikato's place among the legends of Australian racing.

Go Vo Go - A New Orr Stakes Hero

Racing fans did not have to wait long for another champion to rewrite the Orr Stakes record books.

In 1988, Queensland star Vo Rogue arrived at the race following a somewhat unexpected first-up victory in the William Reid Stakes, a contest his connections had approached as little more than a paid trial.

Despite that performance, Vo Rogue was not favourite for the Orr, with Military Plume preferred in betting.

It made little difference.

Vo Rogue treated his opposition with contempt, powering away to a stunning seven-length victory.

"He's got it won, he's walked in!" declared legendary racecaller Bill Collins.

It was the beginning of a remarkable three-year reign, with Vo Rogue returning in 1989 and 1990 to defeat a familiar rival in Super Impose.

The big-striding chestnut would become one of Vo Rogue's greatest adversaries, repeatedly launching powerful finishing bursts in pursuit of the free-running Queenslander.

On both occasions, however, Vo Rogue had established enough of a break to hold him at bay.

Vo Rogue Vs Super Impose

Blinkers were removed from Vo Rogue ahead of the 1989 Orr Stakes, which he won by 1¼ lengths.

Trainer Vic Rail believed his champion was becoming an increasingly accomplished racehorse.

"He is getting to the stage now where he realises that he can stop and start and do what he likes in his races. He might be becoming a real racehorse!"

By 1990, Vo Rogue had been racing consistently without winning, but he still started favourite in his bid for a third Orr Stakes.

Once again, Super Impose was left chasing.

Once again, he finished second.

And remarkably, Vo Rogue recorded the same winning time of 1:23.3.

"He is a phenomenal galloper who is a little bit better in the autumn," Rail said, reflecting on a Melbourne spring campaign that had failed to produce a victory.

Vo Rogue returned for a fourth attempt at the C.F. Orr Stakes in 1991, but his best days were behind him.

True to his customary front-running style, he set the pace before tiring late to finish third behind Planet Ruler.

His victory in the previous year's Australian Cup had proved to be the final win of his celebrated career.

Manikato and Vo Rogue remain the only three-time winners of the C.F. Orr Stakes, their contrasting styles and unforgettable performances ensuring a special place in the history of one of Australia's great races.