DAY FOUR
Orange turns to Gold in Cup thriller
BIG ORANGE pipped hot favourite Order Of St George for a nail-biting Gold Cup triumph.
Order Of St George went off the 5-6 hotpot to repeat his victory of 12 months ago. But he couldn’t get past the gallant Big Orange, who made most of the running under James Doyle to win by a short head.
The six-year-old’s 5-1 success was hugely popular with the 68,320 Ladies Day crowd and Big Orange’s trainer Michael Bell (right) said: “He’s an absolute superstar – he’s got a heart as big as himself.
“He’s a colossal racehorse and, on fast ground in the height of the summer, he’s a bit of a monster.
“In the closing stages I was praying for the winning post, saying any religious thing I could to make the post come – and come it did!
“It was a proper horserace. I can’t tell you the enormous pride I’ve got in him.” Long-standing owner Bill Gredley, 84, who has seen his colours carried to Classic glory through 1992 Oaks and St Leger heroine User Friendly, smiled: “He’s a horse you can fall in love with. He just won’t give in, will he?” Doyle, stand-in jockey for the injured Frankie Dettori, said: “Order Of St George gave him a big wake-up call, but I always knew my horse was going to hold him to the line.”
Dettori’s absence also cost him the winner of the Ribblesdale Coronet, Stakes as Oaks fifth ridden for trainer John Gosden by Olivier Peslier, nailed 2-1 favourite Mori.
The Derby form received a Benbatl, boost when fifth to Wings Of Eagles and the first horse from this year’s premier Classic to run since Epsom, held Order of the garter by half a length to land the Hampton Court Stakes.
His success give rider Oisin Murphy a first Royal Ascot win.