Taking the G2 Princess of Wales's S. in dynamic fashion at Newmarket July 7 as he had before winning this last year, Big Orange made all under a tactical masterclass from Jamie Spencer to repeat that notable achievement and join an elite brigade of stayers to have won this more than once. His latest performance was arguably his best, as he put the high-class The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) to the sword over a mile and a half at the July meeting and trainer Michael Bell's suggestion that he was getting better all the time was well and truly born out. After battling to a much narrower verdict in this race 12 months ago, the aptly-named bay was disappointing when seventh on good-to-soft ground in the G2 Lonsdale Cup over this distance at York in August before excelling when finishing just 2 1/2-lengths fifth in the Nov. 3 G1 Melbourne Cup.
Just a neck away from giving four pounds to the G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Vazirabad (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) when second in the Mar. 26 G2 Dubai Gold Cup, Big Orange was again undone by the rain that arrived prior to the Guineas meeting at Newmarket and wound up third in the G2 Jockey Club S. over 12 furlongs Apr. 30 before his Princess of Wales's rout on the town's other course. Tracked throughout by Sword Fighter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), he put everything under pressure throughout and only the very able were there when he was joined by that 3-year-old rival and Pallasator with a quarter mile to race. Looking as if he might go under for a few strides, he gave more to see off Ballydoyle's runner and draw away again as the line approached.
Jamie Spencer may be his biggest fan and there are a lot of those now. “He's a big, strong galloper who is stronger than last year and is able to sustain top speed for much longer,” he commented. “I'm not convinced this is his track, as I had to slow him down for the bends and on a flat track you could really let him at it. He was really tough when they came to him and in the last furlong, he outstayed them. He really tries hard and the people love a horse who wears his heart on his sleeve.” Bell added, “He's an enormous horse who as the cliche says is like a fine wine in getting better with age. He loves this fast ground and has an enormous stride and a high cruising speed. He is very clean-limbed and is very sound. He was a very raw product as a yearling and a box-walker, so he never went to the sales and I first saw him at the breaking yard in the summer of his 2-year-old career when Bill [Gredley] wasn't going to send him in. When he cantered by we thought he went well so we'd give it a go and the rest is history.” Connections are divided on whether to send Big Orange back to Flemington in November. “There is still more to come,” his trainer continued. “We need to see what weight he's got for the Melbourne Cup, as if he gets given a prohibitive weight there's no point going. Bill is not so keen, but Tim is and so am I. There are other races like the [GI] Canadian International and the Hong Kong races.”
Sir Mark Prescott was far from downbeat about the performance of Pallasator and said, “We had a plan, it was a pleasure to watch and we just got beat. I think Big Orange is improving all the time and I think it was probably as good as we've done. I was saying to someone he is like John McEnroe–if you're horrible enough for long enough, but you're good enough, in the end everybody likes you. He's just getting to that stage!” David Simcock said of Sheikhzayedroad, who is set to go on his travels again, “He's run a lovely race, we've been beaten a length and a quarter. He probably does need things to fall right for him, but at the same time I couldn't be happier with him. He will go to Canada. Whether he goes for something before that, I don't know, there are lots of options for him like the [G2] Lonsdale Cup [at York Aug. 19] and the [Sept. 9 G2] Doncaster Cup.”
Miss Brown To You, who is remarkably by the speed influence Fasliyev, is a half-sister to the Hong Kong champion middle distance horse Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), as well as the sprinting sire Almaty (Ire) and the dam of Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), who was also very popular with the crowds in his time. Successful in the G1 Hong Kong Vase and G2 Yorkshire Cup, he was also second in the G1 Dubai World Cup and in the G1 Melbourne Cup on an amazing three occasions. The third dam is the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas-winning Al Bahathri, whose progeny are headed by 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). Miss Brown To You, whose family also features the G1 Dubai Duty Free and G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua-winning multiple highweight Gladiatorus (Silic {Fr}), 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, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR GOODWOOD CUP-G2, £312,100, GOO, 7-28, 3yo/up, 16fT, 3:24.93, g/f.
1–BIG ORANGE (GB), 134, 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-Jamie Spencer. £176,992. Lifetime Record: GSP-UAE, 18-7-2-1, $1,105,046. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Pallasator (GB), 134, g, 7, Motivator (GB)–Ela Athena (GB), by Ezzoud (Ire). (32,000gns Ylg '10 TATOCT; 150,000gns RNA 6yo '15 TA15). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Newsells Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott. £67,102.
3–Sheikhzayedroad (GB), 134, g, 7, Dubawi (Ire)–Royal Secrets (Ire), by Highest Honor (Fr). O-Mohammed Jaber; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-David Simcock. £33,582.
Margins: 1 1/4, HD, 2. Odds: 2.75, 9.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Wicklow Brave (GB), Sword Fighter (Ire), Quest For More (Ire), Kinema (Ire), Suegioo (Fr), Glaring (GB), Curbyourenthusiasm (Ire), Sandro Botticelli (Ire), The Twisler (GB), Oriental Fox (Ger). DNF: Commissioned (Ire). Scratched: Astronereus (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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