Eight horses have accepted the challenge of meeting Black Caviar in Saturday’s $400,000 Group 1 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes as the super mare sets out for an eighteenth straight victory from debut and her eighth at group one level.

Led by reigning BMW Caulfield Cup champion Southern Speed, Black Caviar’s Orr opposition also contains fellow group one winners Efficient and Playing God, plus Moody Racing second-stringer Doubtful Jack.

Should Black Caviar win – or indeed, should Doubtful Jack – Peter Moody will land his third straight Orr after Typhoon Tracy’s consecutive successes in 2010 and ’11.

The Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes is the highlight of a card that features eight black-type races, including a brace of $125,000 Group 3 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preludes.

All eyes will be fixed on Malasun among the Prelude runners, with the Mick Price-trained filly the only two year-old still in contention to win the $1 million bonus associated with the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Series.

Out to prevent that outcome is the filly raced by the Melbourne Racing Club Members’ Horse Club, Members Joy, whose sole defeat came at Malasun’s hands on Australia Day.

Patrons will be admitted free of charge to Saturday’s meeting, which carries the moniker of Caulfield Festival Family Day.

In line with this theme, the Melbourne Racing Club is laying on all manner of free family entertainment, including:

• Pony rides
• Ferris wheel and other rides
• Final Furlong
• Bungee trampoline
• Roving clown balloonist
• Animal farm
• Face painting
• Inflatable slide
• Mini golf
• Dodgem cars
• CFA activities
• Camp Australia activities
• Nintendo Wii gaming screen
• "Mad Hatter" best hat competition
• Plus guest appearances from Richmond Football Club, Netball Victoria, Basketball Victoria and National Sports Museum

Family Day kids’ lunch packs – containing nuggets, chips and a choice of drink – are available all day for $5.90 from the Public and Members’ Concourse snack bars.

The Black Caviar flavour will not be restricted to the turf, with Caulfield to be draped in salmon and black and her official Cheer Squad to travel en masse from Flinders Street Station on the 10.58am “Black Caviar Express” bound for Caulfield.  Free Black Caviar flags and masks will be available upon entry, and patrons visiting a dedicated Black Caviar marquee will enjoy themed activities including a photo booth and autograph signings. 

Retired champions-cum-Living Legends Silent Witness and Apache Cat will also be on hand at Caulfield to meet, greet and pose for photos, with the former to lead the Sportingbet C.F. Orr field out on the track in a symbolic baton handover from one  world champion sprinter to another.

Lastly, the Melbourne Racing Club is trialling a new wireless internet facility granting up to 3000 patrons access to free WiFi around the Sir Rupert Clarke Grandstand.

Gates open at 10.30am.

Notes: A media call at the stable of Peter Moody (32 Booran Rd, Caulfield) will be held at 9am tomorrow (Thursday 9 February), where Moody and Melbourne Racing Club Chief Executive Officer, Alasdair Robertson, will field questions regarding Caulfield Festival Family Day and Black Caviar’s tilt at eighteen unbeaten victories in the Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes.