ROYAL ACE DIGS DEEP FOR O'BRIEN DOUBLE

Royal Ace fought back strongly after being headed with 50m to go to win the final race at Flemington on Saturday giving leading trainer Danny O'Brien a double on his home track. 

The six-year-old was given a superb ride by Linda Meech, and he cruised to the front at the 300m before being headed inside the final furlong.

"We were in front for a long time and when he saw the other horse pass him, he lifted and put his head out to win the race. It was a nice performance," Meech said.

O'Brien said Royal Ace was a diffcult horse to train given he didn't over exert himself in trackwork.

"He struggles to run even time in trackwork, he is that lazy. But he saves it for race day and it takes him a while  to get fit each preparation, but once he hits form he is able to hold it," O'Brien said.

"We enjoys a wet track so we will keep him going and see if we can pick up another with him."