The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
George is in good order: O’Brien
ROYAL ASCOT: Five-year-old ‘in similar place to last year’
Having answered questions about his stamina when an impressive winner last year, Aidan O’Brien’s Order Of St George looks a solid favourite in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot today.
The five-year-old went on to finish third behind stablemates Found and Highland Reel in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but less than a fortnight later he was surprisingly beaten at Ascot on Champions Day.
He also suffered a reverse on his seasonal debut in the Vintage Crop Stakes before winning the Saval Beg, with O’Brien reluctant to make comparisons with four-time Gold Cup winner Yeats.
“We take one race at a time with every horse and don’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” said O’Brien.
“It’s been a case of so far so good with Order Of St George this season.
“We were happy with his first run and his second run, and we’ve been happy with him since.
“I’d say he’s in a similar place to last year.
“We were delighted with him in the Gold Cup last year. We could not be sure he would stay the distance, but he saw it out well.
“He could go for the Goodwood Cup afterwards, but we’ve got to get to Ascot first and we will see after that.”
Michael Bell’s Big Orange will be ridden by James Doyle in the absence of Frankie Dettori, but his trainer admits the trip is a bit of an unknown for the dual Goodwood Cup winner.
“There’s no doubt he’ll get 2¼ miles, but 2½ is uncharted waters.
“But looking at him as a physical specimen, you’ve got to think if any horse is going to get 2½, he would.
Sheikhzayedroad won the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day last year and trainer David Simcock expects him to run his usual solid race in what is another leg of the Qipco British Champions Series.
Simple Verse won the 2015 St Leger for Ralph Beckett and made a pleasing return to action in the Yorkshire Cup.
David Redvers, racing manager for owner Qatar Racing, said: “She is great and moving well.”
Meanwhile, Torcedor has made giant strides for Jessica Harrington since joining the team on David Wachman’s retirement, beating Order Of St George in the Vintage Crop Stakes.