Who To Follow At The Curragh On Sunday - 17/07/22

James Mackie | @jamesmackieee

Curragh - July 16 2022
Curragh 13:10
1(1)
Ryan Moore

Order Of Australia

J: Ryan Moore
T: A P O'Brien
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-10
OR: 118
Days: 33

The big selection of the afternoon from the Curragh comes in the feature Group Two Minstrel Stakes over seven furlongs and we can't look past the favourite Order Of Australia.

Massively clear on ratings heading into this race having performed well in Group One and Two races over 7f to a mile during his career, with his crowning moment coming in November 2020 when landing the Breeders Cup Mile at Keeneland.

A very consistent performer last season, he landed this event last year with ease on his second start of the season and then went on to place in the Group One Prix Jacques Le Marois behind Palace Pier and Poetic Flare and then second on the Prix Du Moulin behind Baaeed.

Looking to retain his Breeders Cup title he finished last of the 12 on his final start of last year, but back this season for a new campaign he bounced back to form when third at Royal Ascot in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes behind Baaeed again and Real World.

Dropping into Group Two company, into the race he was last seen winning, he holds leading claims once more.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
18/02/23DOH8Gd9-21
11/12/22SHA10Gd9-011
05/11/22KEE8Fm9-06
08/10/22KEE8Fm9-03
04/09/22LON8GS9-42

Trainer To Follow - Johnny Murtagh

Johnny Murtagh sends a decent team of runners to the Curragh on Sunday starting in the opener with Alabama Pearl and Clounmacon making their debuts.

In the first handicap event of the day Murtagh fields Kerkiyra who was a bold third on her first start this term and should be in the mix once more, the handler also fields Knightlaila.

The ex jockey lets Miss Mirabell have a second chance in handicap company in the fillies event over a mile and she runs off the same mark.

Murtagh goes in search of Group Two honours in the Kilboy Estate Stakes with One For Bobby looking to take a big step forward.

The only other runner across the day for the trainer is Nemean in the 1m4f Maiden.

Jockey To Follow - Ryan Moore

Ryan Moore stays over in Ireland for Sunday's action and has picked up a handful of big rides for retained trainer Aidan O'Brien across the day.

In the opener Moore is trying to get Unless off the mark with the two year old making his debut in June and finishing third but having a superb pedigree being a son of Triple Crown winner Justify, big things are expected.

Order Of Australia is looking to land back to back renewals of the Group Two Minstrel Stakes and then in the Fillies' Handicap Moore sits on the top weighted West Coast.

The rider gets the mount on Lily Pond in the final Group Two of the Irish Oaks meeting with the filly needing to step up in this company.

Moore's final ride of the afternoon comes on Over The Rainbow who is a well bred son of Dubawi that looks to be the jockeys best chance of the day.