‘There’s a God in racing’: Another Wil wins CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield

Another Wil beats Mr Brightside in CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield Another Wil has won his first race of 2025 and very first ever Group 1 race.

The Ciaron Maher-trained five year old finished first in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse. He beat out the betting sites favourite Mr Brightside by a third of a length.

As impressive as the result was for the horse in isolation, this victory was celebrated more than most as it came just days after the birthday of his late owner, Colin McKenna.

Emotional day for winning team

Another Wil was owned by Janice McKenna alongside her husband Colin McKenna. Unfortunately, Colin passed away last year from a brain tumour.

Before Colin passed, he was able to see the rise of Another Wil as a top galloper, but he never saw the blossoming star win a Group 1 race. His passing was still looming large in the hearts of Maher and jockey Jamie Kah after the race.

Kah –who raced under the name Jamie Melham on Saturday following her marriage to fellow jockey Ben Melham– was especially emotional after the race.

“I’ve thought about this day, I dreamed about it the last few days, and it’s amazing that things like this happen in racing,” said Melham.

“There's a God in racing…this horse has deserved it for so many starts, but to do it for Col after his birthday on Tuesday is just amazing.

“I know he's watching down on us and Another Wil lifted for his dad. That was amazing.”

Maher praises Another Wil’s development

Trainer Ciaron Maher expressed a similar sentiment to Melham after the race. He said Colin was on his mind and explained that the late owner’s smart decision making was key to Another Wil being as strong of a horse as he is today.

“Colin always loved this horse in particular,” Maher said.

“I resisted the temptation to take him to that top level because he needed time to mature, and Col was always very patient and it’s not fitting that he can’t be here.

“He just would have been so thrilled, but I’m pretty proud. He was just such a great mentor and friend and supporter. It’s just beautiful.”

Mr Brighside a “tough old bugger” to beat

It’s impossible to say whether Colin had an influence on Saturday’s race, but it’s definitely true that Another Wil needed everything he could get to beat Mr Brightside. The five year old just narrowly beat out the eight-time Group-1 winner.

Maher described the veteran as a “tough old bugger” to beat after the race. However, he added that Mr Brightside could be a good template for Another Wil to follow.

“I’m thrilled and hopefully over the next 12 months, couple of years, he can really go on with it,” Maher said, talking about Another Wil’s progress.

In the short-term, Maher says that Group 1 Futurity Stakes and the All-Star Mile are both options for his rising star.

“He’ll just go through the weight-for-age path. We’ll see what sort of weight he gets up in Sydney as to the big mile races up there, but we’ll celebrate this one and he’s got plenty of options now.

“The All-Star Mile seems like a natural progression for him, and he’s got good form at Flemington as well, so the All-Star seems fitting,” he explained.