Dan Morton’s decision to scratch In Good Order from Wednesday’s Listed A.T.A. Stakes (2200m) and head to today’s Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) at Ascot proved an astute one.
Dan Morton rolled the dice and it paid off with In Good Order producing the perfect audition and warm up before tackling the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) on New Year’s Day.
It had been a while coming for In Good Order but his quest was fulfilled after campaign placings in the Northam Cup (1600m), Scahill Cup (2100m) and Towton Cup (2200m).
Given a perfect steer from pick-up jockey, Shaun O’Donnell, In Good Order grabbed the lead from Numerian at the 100m mark and held out the luckless, Let’s Galahvant.
The Ben and Dan Pearce-trained Let’s Galahvant saw backsides in the home straight, but found the finishing post too soon after charging home when in the clear
The six-year-old is back on track for a Perth Cup tilt after rebounding from a disappointing run in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) when 14th of 16 to Light Infantry Man.
Numerian, second favourite behind Socks Nation and last year’s winner of the Ted Van Heemst Stakes, hung on for third with Casino Seventeen fourth.
Socks Nation, sent out the $2.60 betting site favourite, didn’t live up to her rating and Perth Cup hopes appear shaky after running sixth with Marocchino and Currimundi the only ones behind her.
Socks Nation stalked the leader Marocchino and was poised to make an impact as the field fanned for home, but she hit a brick wall with 200m remaining and her race was gone.
In Good Order, a $140,000 Perth yearling buy, captured his fifth win from 20 starts and boosted prizemoney to a tick under half a million dollars.
“It was a bit of roll the dice for us, we backed ourselves in,” Morton said.
“It leaps us into a Perth Cup in good shape.
“You’re not chasing fitness now, which is good.
“We’ll take our time, but he will take benefit out of that.
“We’ll tinker with him until January.”
With regular rider Chris Parnham out suspended, O’Donnell, as he invariably does on pick up rides, maximised his opportunity with both hands.
The experienced rider has been devilled by injury in the past two years, but his best win since returning will be a touch sweeter than the rest.
Morton wasted no time post-race in heaping praise on O’Donnell’s efforts in steering In Good Order home.
“It was some ride and honestly, he’s the best pick-up rider in the business,” Morton said.
“He’s been doing a lot of work on this horse behind the scenes.
“Chris Parnham has been riding him obviously, but Shaun has such beautiful hands.
“He was the go-to once Chris (Parnham) got rubbed out.
“I was singing his praises past the post the first time.
“It was right where we needed to be.”
In Good Order and Let’s Galahvant are into $8 for the Perth Cup 2025.
Diamond Scene the $5 favourite ahead of Sentimental Hero $5.50.
Numerian and Socks Nation are now $9.
