Big Orange handed trainer Michael Bell a timely boost when demonstrating his battling qualities to gain a surprise success in the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket.
Although looking progressive at the back end of last season the four-year-old had shown little in both his runs to date this term, leaving him with something to find with the principal players in what looked an above-average renewal of the mile-and-a-half Group Two prize.
In a switch of tactics from his last run the 25-1 shot was sent straight into an uncontested lead by Jamie Spencer.
Having dictated matters up front from the outset it looked as though the Bill Gredley-owned gelding was set to be swamped approaching the final three furlongs as a host of challengers lined up with promising looking runs in behind.
Just as Gospel Choir and Second Step were set to go on and fight out the finish, Big Orange pulled out more under a full drive from former champion jockey Spencer in the final furlong to put his head back in front again and claim a hard-fought success by half a length.
Scintillating performance
The big disappointment was the previously unbeaten Royal Ascot winner Mahsoob, who finished a well-held sixth after appearing to fail to see out the trip. Lumiere saw her name added the to mix for next year’s English 1,000 Guineas after turning in a scintillating performance in the second division of the John Deere EBF Stallions Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Breaking smartly from the stalls, the Mark Johnston-trained two-year-old was soon settled and relaxed out in front in the hands of William Buick as she opened up a gap she was not to relinquish.
Although Sharja Queen momentarily looked to come out of the pack and bridge the gap, there was to be no catching the 6-5 favourite who cruised to a six-length victory, providing the second leg of a double for the winning trainer and rider.
Lumiere was given quotes of 25-1 with Paddy Power, 20-1 with William Hill and 16-1 with Boylesports for the Guineas.
Resonant initiated the pair’s double after marking his return to form with an emphatic front-running victory in the Unibet Handicap Stakes.
Taste of success
Although setting a furious pace, the 14-1 shot had many of his rivals off the bridle a long way out in the mile-and-a-quarter contest, registering a three -and-three-quarter-length success and adding to wins gained at the Rowley Mile and Goodwood earlier in the season.
Charlie Fellowes received his first taste of success at the course as Salvo sauntered to an impressive first time out victory in the opening division of the fillies’ maiden.
Sporting the silks of owner Anthony Oppenheimer, made famous this year by Epsom Derby and Eclipse winner Golden Horn, the Acclamation filly (10-1) came from off the pace around the outside of the field to take the six-furlong contest going away by a length and three-quarters.
