Reporter: Simon Rowlands
Just the five runners but Order of Australia is a Group 1 performer and saw off a couple of smart rivals with a degree of comfort in this Group 2, repeating his win of the year before and back to his best in the process. The pace was true, with the winner’s finishing speed of 101.8% almost bang on par, and the form should prove reasonably trustworthy.
ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (119 here and previously) was back to his best in repeating his win in this race from 12 months before, too good for some useful and borderline smart rivals. He made all at a good pace, was joined 2f out but responded well and drew away under pressure in the final 1f. This trip and 8f come alike to him and he even won at 12f earlier in his career.
PEARLS GALORE (106 here, 109 previously) ran creditably against a superior rival though did not help herself by edging right under pressure in the penultimate 1f, racing in second until challenging 2f out and keeping on again having briefly been outpaced.
DR ZEMPF (107 here, 111 previously) was close to form but does seem very useful rather than better, likely to have to be placed well to win above Group 3 company. He raced in third, a little free initially, was ridden over 1f out and soon one paced.
PRISONER’S DILEMMA (97 here, 103 previously) ran respectably but never really threatened having been held up.
REAL APPEAL (95 here, 103 previously) was a bit below form, held up and the first in trouble, never a threat.
