Four horses that did battle in the G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup locked horns again in the G2 Quayclean Zipping Classic at Sandown on Saturday and the successful Australian spring for Godolphin continued as Beautiful Romance (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) prevailed narrowly in a driving finish. Trained for Godolphin by Saeed Bin Suroor Beautiful Romance finished seventh last time at Flemington and was re-opposed by Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}), Almoonqith (Dynaformer) and Big Orange (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) who finished fifth, sixth and tenth respectively in the Melbourne Cup. Michael Bell's Big Orange adopted his customary role out in front with Glyn Schofield happy to bide his time in mid-division on the eventual winner. As they straightened for home Big Orange was tackled by the field with So Si Bon (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}) seemingly poised to take advantage of his considerable weight allowance. His run was short lived though and as Big Orange found again for pressure and re-asserted he was soon joined by both Almoonqith and Beautiful Romance with the Godolphin filly just getting her head in front when it mattered to win by a short head and a head. It was a second Group 2 win for Beautiful Romance following her victory in the G2 Betfred Middleton S. at York in May and Glyn Schofield commented, “Once the gaps opened up in the straight and she found the split, for a horse that's a stayer she surged quite strongly and kept that gallop up right to the line.” Damian Lane, rider of Bill Gredley's Big Orange was thrilled with the run although slightly regretful over the earlier fractions, “He ran super today. On a still day he probably wins. He just did a length, length-and-a-half too much work down the back straight,” he told Racing.com.
Melbourne Cup fourth place-getter Qewy (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}) also added to Godolphin's recent Cup haul on when winning the Listed Sandown Cup for Charlie Appleby while Godolphin's main Australian trainer John O'Shea wasn't left out when his Morton's Fork (Aus) (Ad Valorem) won the G2 Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas.
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