Order Of Australia primed for Sussex rematch with Baaeed after Minstrel win

Sunday: Curragh

An already stellar edition of the Sussex Stakes became even deeper on Sunday after Order Of Australia confirmed his Goodwood place by readily making it back-to-back wins in the Romanised Minstrel Stakes.

It seemed unlikely we would see the 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile winner back in action when news emerged of what was thought to be a career-ending injury last October, but the classy five-year-old looked as good as ever when running out a dominant winner of this Group 2.

In seeing off the in-form Pearls Galore by three and a half lengths under Ryan Moore, a potential clash with Baaeed, Coroebus and Alcohol Free is now forthcoming in the Qatar-backed Group 1 later this month.

Speaking after the 4-5 favourite's front-running strike, trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He's a lovely horse out of a great mare [Senta's Dream]. He has loads of speed, is tough, genuine and hardy.

Aidan O'Brien on Order Of Australia: 'He's at that great age now that he's seasoned, has experience and is quicker this year'Credit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

"He ran a lovely race first time back at Ascot this year [when third in the Queen Anne]. He's a Breeders' Cup Mile winner, so he has plenty of class. As he's getting older he's getting quicker and stronger."

Only one horse, Palace Pier, has managed to finish closer to Baaeed than Order Of Australia, who got within a length and a quarter of that unbeaten star in last year's Prix du Moulin.

O'Brien added: "The plan is to go to the Sussex and finish up at the Breeders' Cup. He could go to Hong Kong and do all those races. He's at that great age now that he's seasoned, has experience and is quicker this year. That'll be a big help in those big races."

Prix de l'Opera option for Lily Pond

An afternoon that started with a one-two in the Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly got even better for the Ballydoyle team when Lily Pond delivered a career-best performance to land the Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes.

Purplepay, sent off the even-money favourite for William Haggas and Tom Marquand, failed to live up to expectations in fifth, with the 8-1 winner responding well to a drop in trip.

Lily Pond: recorded biggest win of her career in the Group 2 Kilboy Estate StakesCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien said: "It was just too far for her last time. We knew after then that her trip was between nine and 12 furlongs. She's a very tough, consistent filly but I'd say probably a mile and a half is as far as she wants to go.

"She could go up into a good ten-furlong race now. She could be there for Arc weekend for the Prix de l'Opera."

O'Brien jnr doubles up

It was also a fine day's work for Joseph O'Brien, who plundered a pair of maidens on the card with two promising sorts.

A step up in class to Listed or Group company could be next for gutsy two-year-old Vernet, who won the opening maiden contest at 16-1 in a photo under Declan McDonogh.

Nusret, partnered to victory by Mikey Sheehy in the 1m4f maiden, looks a three-year-old on the up and could be in line for an Irish Champions Weekend handicap in September.

Davis strikes in Corinthian contest

An ecstatic Jane Davis was given a warm reception into the Curragh winner's enclosure after partnering Takarengo to victory in round one of the Irish Injured Jockeys Corinthian Challenge, a series designed to raise funds for the key industry charity.

Formerly manager at Tipperary racecourse and Horse Racing Ireland's racecourse marketing support manager, the Dublin native works as head of equine marketing at Connolly's Red Mills.

Results, replays and analysis

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