The Brian Smith trained Order Again was able to keep regular placegetter Tom Melbourne out of the winner’s stall again with a convincing win in the Group 3 $140,000 Ascot Green Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m) at Eagle Farm today.

Tom Melbourne, above, collected another runner's up cheque when second to Order Again in the Lord's Mayor's Cup at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.

Tom Melbourne, above, collected another runner’s up cheque when second to Order Again in the Lord’s Mayor’s Cup at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Chris Waller trained Tom Melbourne has been placed sixteen times from forty-three starts prior to today’s run and made it four placings from his last four starts, the last three in the runner’s up stall.

Blake Shinn took Tom Melbourne straight to the front from barrier four in the thirteen horse field and the popular eight year had it to himself setting the pace while Larry Cassidy let Order Again settle in the second half of the field after jumping from gate two.

Tom Melbourne led the field into the straight but wasn’t able to hold off the strong finishing burst of the Eagle Farm trained Order Again with the Waller trained stablemate Le Juge ($7.50) running on from back in the field to fill third position.

Tom Melbourne was sent out as the $2.80 top pick while Order Again was the second elect at $5.50 and finished too strongly for the favourite to record a three quarters of a length win.

Winning jockey Larry Cassidy has a great association with Order Again and today’s win was the sixth time the pair teamed up for a visit to the winner’s stall.

“Brian has done a fantastic job with him. He is obviously a horse that has had a lot of problems,” Cassidy said.

“He won this day three years ago so today was his day.”

“I got a beautiful run from a good draw. They went along nice and I had to take the split when I got it and did no work doing it so I knew he was going to let down and let down he did.”

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.