Racing tips: Ace Aussie can put it up to Order Of Australia in the Minstrel Stakes (Group 2)

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Apologies from me to those who followed yesterday's selections, seven up on a Saturday is alright if you manage to get a couple of winners, but to get none, I've ended up with egg on my face. Selections will definitely be back to a limited amount, especially on a Saturday where the racing is difficult. Hopefully Sunday will be a better day…

Curragh 2:10

Order Of Australia is the class horse in this race, but I think he can be opposed over a trip which could be too short for him. To see him running over 7f seems a little strange, and no one on this planet would have called this from last season, as he was a winner over 12f. With that being said, I am taking him on with ACE AUSSIE, who I do think will be supported in the market.

Based on breeding, you'd probably say he'd be better over further, like his half-brother Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was best over 12f-14f. However, I think Ace Aussie is better over 7f-8f, and on a uphill finish like the Curragh, the 7f could be best suited. I advise to watch the race where Ace Aussie finished runner-up to Poetic Flare at Leopardstown in the Guineas Trial, the ground he made up was astonishing. He was virtually last when turning for home, but showed a good turn of foot to finish second, and it was literally impossible to beat Poetic Flare that day, as he had the prime spot of second when turning for home. Knowing what we know now, that was a huge run to finish second to Poetic Flare, who looks like an absolute monster over 8f, shown by winning the English 2000 Guineas and hosing up in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Due to running on strongly over 7f, connections tried Ace Aussie over 8f, at Leopardstown again… where he was poorly positioned again. He made good ground, but his efforts petered out in the final half furlong, which suggests that he might be better over 7f. The form of that race has also worked out well, with the winner pushing Japan all the way a couple of days ago, which was a career best.

This track should be better suited for him, if he wants to be held-up, as he should hopefully have a much easier time of making up the ground, as there will be no turns. Galtee Mist looks the likely pacemaker, and might be pestered by Military Style, who might want to make it into a stamina test, to suit his stablemate Order Of Australia. I wouldn't mind this turning into a test, as I think that will suit Ace Aussie, who might want a fast 7f. Power Under Me deserves an honorable mention, as I do rate his form behind A Case Of You, and he might enjoy the step up in trip.

Curragh 3:55

A horse who I feel like I must back is OODNADATTA, who I fancied quite strongly at big odds in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh a few weeks back. I think she was given a very easy ride by Colin Keane on that occasion, and after the race I said it wouldn't be a surprise if it was a prep run for something down the line, and this could be it. This is a much easier task than her recent race, and she could appreciate a step down in grade.

Fast ground which she will encounter today will probably be ideal ground, as her siblings are best on a quick surface. The step back to 9f could also suit, especially if they go a good pace, as I do think she is a strong stayer over 8f. Based on breeding she will be better over the longer trip than what she contested in last year, and she seemed to stay relatively well last time over 10f, but like I said previously, they never really tried on her.

Create Belief will probably be strong in the market, but today's racing conditions are totally different to what she faced when winning easily at Royal Ascot. She clearly enjoys soft ground, which she won't be getting and she was positioned in the correct place in that race, near the stands side rail, and was up with the pace. I'm not saying it wasn't a good run, because it was very impressive, but this is totally different to a Class 2 handicap, on ground which doesn't look ideal. It wouldn't surprise me to see her get pulled out due to the ground.

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