This result was one for the “horses-for-courses” brigade, with the imposing Big Orange repeating his 2015 success, but was also confirmation of what a perfectly-tuned thoroughbred can achieve under a perfectly-judged ride, in this case from the visiting Aussie James McDonald.
Coming to the fore when battling to a half-length verdict over Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) under Jamie Spencer 12 months ago, the bay lived up to his trainer's belief that he had improved since than when much more impressive to become the first since Millenary (GB) (Rainbow Quest) in 2003 to win this twice. Successful in the G2 Goodwood Cup over two miles after his last win in this, he flopped when seventh on good-to-soft in York's G2 Lonsdale Cup at that distance in August before finishing 2 1/2 lengths back in fifth in the Nov. 3 G1 Melbourne Cup. Beaten a neck attempting to give four pounds to the G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Vazirabad (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) on his 5-year-old bow in the Mar. 26 G2 Dubai Gold Cup, Big Orange failed to get truly motoring on rain-deadened ground when nine-lengths third to Exosphere in the G2 Jockey Club S. over this trip on the Rowley Mile Apr. 30.
Soon in command after a tardy start, he was able to up the tempo markedly inside the final three furlongs with the favourite The Grey Gatsby needing to make up abundant ground under Spencer. Despite that rival's efforts to do so, he never got closer than the 2 1/2 lengths that separated them at the line with the winner uncannily strong there despite his earlier efforts.
“He's happy out there in front and gave me a beautiful ride,” his jockey said. “He wasn't the best to begin, but he was in front where it mattered. He was a gentleman on the course.” Trainer Michael Bell added, “I couldn't believe they left him alone in front, especially racing in Indian file as they have much more ground to make up from behind. He'll just keep going, as we know he gets two miles and he wasn't going to stop. He's the most charming horse to train and a joy to have around–he's been in very good form at home and is a high-class horse who loves summer ground. We had to skip the Gold Cup and came here as an afterthought, but I'm glad we did.”
The Grey Gatsby's trainer Kevin Ryan said of the runner-up, still without a win since the 2014 G1 Irish Champion S., “Jamie was delighted with him, you can't say he didn't get the trip. It was a stop-start race and they didn't really go a gallop, I think the sectional times will prove that. Obviously he needs an end-to-end gallop, whether that's over 10 or 12 furlongs. The winner is a good, battled-hardened horse and he was never going to stop. Jamie was in a funny predicament turning in, he had to sit and suffer and hope that someone went on but no-one did. I'm delighted as it's the first time in 12 months he's had his ground, I know I keep bleating on about it, but he needs it fast. He could go for the [G1] Juddmonte [International at York Aug. 17] now, and we hope they get a decent-sized field. I'm not privileged enough to put a pacemaker in, but there are others that can. We can't wait for the Breeders' Cup–it's tailor-made for him and then he will bow out. The Arc is at Chantilly this year and if the ground is right he could go there, too.”
Big Orange's dam is a half to the formidable Hong Kong champion Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) and also the sprinting sire Almaty (Ire) and the dam of the ill-fated Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), who was successful in the G1 Hong Kong Vase and G2 Yorkshire Cup and second in the G1 Dubai World Cup and in the G1 Melbourne Cup on three occasions. The third dam is the legendary Al Bahathri, the 1000 Guineas-winning dam of the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Champion S.-winning sire Haafhd (GB), the highweight G1 Coronation S. runner-up Hasbah (Ire) (Kris {GB}) and G2 Challenge S.-winning sire Munir (GB). Also from the extended family of the G1 Dubai Duty Free and G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua-winning multiple highweight Gladiatorus (Silic {Fr}), Miss Brown To You also has an as-yet unraced 3-year-old filly by Manduro (Ger) named The Paris Shrug (GB), a 2-year-old by Sepoy (Aus) named Stormy Blues (GB) and a yearling filly by Poet's Voice (GB).
Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
PRINCESS OF WALES'S ARQANA RACING CLUB S.-G2, £100,000, NEW, 7-7, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:29.93, g/f.
1–BIG ORANGE (GB), 128, g, 5, by Duke of Marmalade (Ire)
1st Dam: Miss Brown To You (Ire), by Fasliyev
2nd Dam: Almaaseh (Ire), by Dancing Brave
3rd Dam: Al Bahathri, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
O-W J & T C O Gredley; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs (GB); T-Michael Bell; J-James McDonald. £56,710. Lifetime Record: GSP-UAE, 17-6-2-1, $871,009. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]
2–The Grey Gatsby (Ire), 128, h, 5, Mastercraftsman (Ire)––Marie Vison (Ire), by Entrepreneur (GB). (€24,000 Ylg '12 AR12; €120,000 2yo '13 ARMAY). O-Frank Gillespie; B-Malcolm Parrish (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £21,500.
3–Exosphere (GB), 131, c, 4, Beat Hollow (GB)–Bright and Clear (GB), by Danehill. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £10,760.
Margins: 2HF, HF, 3HF. Odds: 8.00, 2.75, 4.00.
Also Ran: Battersea (GB), Second Step (Ire), Elite Army (GB), Muntazah (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
