Orderofthegarter has rocketed into Caulfield Cup favouritism after winning a golden ticket into the race with his victory in the Naturalism Stakes.
Jockey Damien Oliver said Orderofthegarter had snuck into next month’s Group One Caulfield Cup with a light weight and would be a great chance with just 50kg.
“That was only his third run in three years so there’s still improvement to come,” Oliver said after the horse claimed Saturday’s 2000m feature.
The win completed a treble for trainer Danny O’Brien who posted earlier Caulfield victories with From Within and Fabric.
O’Brien said he was thrilled Orderofthegarter had secured a start in the 2020 Caulfield Cup.
“He got a nice run from the good draw. He’s just been building, this guy,” O’Brien said.
“He’s coming off a two year lay-off. Each run he’s just found a little bit and I think there’s still more to come towards the Caulfield Cup next time.
“He’s a lovely horse, a good looking son of Galileo – very genuine. He tries really hard every time you send him out there.”
Orderofthegarter is raced by leviathian owner Lloyd Williams and his son Nick who have won a Caulfield Cup with Fawkner in 2013.
Danny O’Brien has also won the race once with Master O’Reilly in 2007.
O’Brien said it was a great ride from Oliver, who placed him where they had planned pre-race which was just behind the speed.
It was 30 years ago at the corresponding meeting that Oliver recorded his first win at Group One level when he took out the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on Submariner.
Oliver won’t be able to ride the 50kg allotted to Orderofthegarter and O’Brien suggested that Daniel Moor could snare the plum mount, but he will confer with the horse’s owners.
Orderofthegarter ($2.90 fav) defeated Chapada ($21) by three-quarters of a length with Steel Prince ($11) a short-head away third.
