PREPARE FOR A NEW ORDER
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3 1 ORDER OF AUSTRALIA 2 PALACE PIER 3 REGAL REALITY
ORDER OF AUSTRALIA put up a personal best under these conditions at last year’s Breeders’ Cup, and is the value play against hot favourite Palace Pier.
As a son of 2014 Derby hero Australia, it is no surprise that the Aidan O’Brien trainee spent most of 2020 running over middle distances.
Order Of Australia racked up wins at Dundalk and the Curragh in September but it was a step back in trip for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland in November that saw my selection take a big step forward.
Unconsidered in the betting at 40-1, Order Of Australia led late on to beat stablemates Circus Maximus and Lope Y Fernandez by a neck and three-quarters of a length.
A sixth in the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin 12 days before Christmas rates a few pounds below that form but the choice of Ryan Moore is unexposed at a mile.
Palace Pier is indeed a three-time Group 1 winner but there’s little juice in the market leader’s odds.
For the minor placings, the fact Regal Reality showed his best form at this distance on his final three outings of last season makes him a podium candidate, along with 2019 victor Lord Glitters.