The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
No pipping Big Orange at post
Six-year-old holds off Order of St George to claim victory in thrilling Gold Cup
Big Orange landed an ASCOT GOLD
CUP that will live long in the memory. Few wear their heart on their sleeves more than the Michael Bell-trained sixyear-old. After several attempts he finally gained the Group One victory his talents deserved, serving up a finish of epic proportions having missed the race 12 months ago due to soft ground.
Although Quest For More took the field along through the early stages of the 2½-mile contest, an inspired James Doyle – standing in for the injured Frankie Dettori -– sent his mount into a lead he was not to surrender with a full circuit to go.
Turning for home the 5-1 shot was still well in control of matters as stamina became an issue for many.
An exception was Aidan O’Brien’s odds-on favourite Order Of St George, who began his charge from the back under a patient Ryan Moore.
It looked like last year’s winner was going to repeat his success as the pair pulled clear but, with one final effort, Big Orange demonstrated the size of his heart and desire to win in getting the verdict by a short head.
Meanwhile, Coronet strengthened John Gosden’s hand of leading threeyear-old fillies with a performance laden with class and stamina to lift the RIBBLESDALE STAKES.
Enable may be the Newmarket trainer’s star in that department after her Oaks success at Epsom, where Coronet was only fifth.
However, the latter showed it was the downhill section of that notoriously difficult course and not any shortage of talent that was her undoing, as she swooped late to snatch the Group Two honours.
When asked if he would consider Coronet for the St Leger, Gosden said of his 9-1 winner: “She will get further than a mile and a half. The owner is quite game, but I’ll have to discuss it with him.”
Benbatl (9-2), who occupied fifth spot in the Investec Derby, displayed his undoubted ability by giving Oisin Murphy his first ever Royal Ascot victory for the in-form Godolphin team in the HAMPTON COURT STAKES.
The Dubawi colt stuck to his task admirably to hold Orderofthegarter by
half a length and get trainer Saeed bin Suroor off the mark for the week and possibly earn himself a crack at the Champion Stakes back at Ascot in October.
Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien caused a minor upset when Sioux Nation (14-1) edged out Santry in the NORFOLK STAKES.
The first two were separated by the width of the track, and it was the Irish raider who took the spoils by half a length under Ryan Moore.