MELBOURNE Racing Club moved the star-studded C.F. Orr Stakes to Sunday in the face of expected 43 degree temperatures on Saturday.

To cope with the move, the Sale meeting planned for Sunday will now be run on Monday.

The race times for Sunday’s meeting have been amended to accommodate meetings throughout Victoria and interstate.

The first race will be scheduled at 12.45pm with the last of nine races at 5.28pm. The Sportingbet Orr Stakes, race 7 on the program, will be run at 4.18pm.

“There were a few options available to us that we were considering in the last day or so since we learnt of the forecast but the common-sense approach was to avoid the oppressive conditions that are expected on Saturday in the interests of all concerned," MRC chief executive Warran Brown said.

A reduced general admission cost for Sunday’s meeting has been set at $10 for adults and $6 concession, while children aged under 14 accompanied by an adult will be admitted free.

Trainer Colin Little said the gloves would be off with comeback champion El Segundo.

On Tuesday Little said he was inclined to bypass the 1400m Orr and run a week later in the 1200m Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.

But the 2007 Cox Plate winner recovered so well from a Tuesday morning hitout at Caulfield that Little yesterday opted to take on Light Fantastic, Maldivian and Theseo in the star-studded 12-strong Orr field.

First-up El Segundo ran fifth of seven in the 1200m Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley on January 23, an effort stand-in jockey Steven King predicted would have the champion almost at his peak second-up.

It's an opinion the conservative Little shares.

"Yep, no doubt, he's ready," Little said yesterday.

"He ran the quickest last 400m at the Valley and showed he still wanted to be out there.

"Initially I wanted to give him an extra week but he doesn't need it. He's ready to run and ready to run well."

El Segundo, a $9.50 chance with TAB Sportsbet, drew perfectly in gate five yesterday.

Light Fantastic was posted $3.80 favourite despite drawing awkwardly in gate nine.

TAB Sportsbet price assessor Craig McDonald said there were at least six chances.

"It is a good betting race. Niconero was a tragedy beaten in the race last year and is coming off a let-up rather than a spell. I don't think El Segundo can beat Light Fantastic. I think he needs another run," McDonald said.

He said the Mick Price pair of Light Fantastic and Alamosa were the keys to the race. "I would expect them to both go forward and sit third and fourth," he said.

McDonald said there was a chance Light Fantastic could be posted wide.

"Maldivian still has the blinkers on so he will go forward and Theseo has had two solid trials so I expect he will sit second or cross Maldivian."


Adrian Dunn, Matt Stewart and Tim Habel

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