Big Orange produced another determined front-running display to successfully defend his crown in the Qatar Goodwood Cup.
Just as he had 12 months ago, Michael Bell’s imposing gelding lined up on the Sussex Downs on the back of victory in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket and he was the 11-4 favourite to strike gold once more in the hands of Jamie Spencer.
A smart start allowed the five-year-old to adopt his customary role at the head of affairs and he steadily wound up the gallop.
Spencer was hard at work from two furlongs down, with several horses laying down challenges, but Big Orange refused to yield and galloped all the way to the line to score by a length and a quarter.
The giant Pallasator passed the post in second, just ahead of Sheikhzayedroad, who came home well for third.
Spencer said: “He wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s a big strong galloper and he’s got stronger since last year and can sustain top speed for longer.
“I’m not convinced this is his track. On flat tracks he’s much better as you can really let him at it, but you have to slow down for the bends here.”
Spencer added: “He was tough when it came to it. They came to me at the three and matched me for speed and the last furlong he just outstayed them again.
“I always wanted to be leading or sat second, but he got on with it and put them to the sword.”
Bell was thrilled with the performance but reticent to commit to another Melbourne Cup trip after Big Orange finished fifth in the ‘race that stops a nation’ last year.
He said: “He’s an enormous horse and big horses tend to mature with age. It’s a cliche but like a fine wine, he’s getting better with age. He’s just a star to have in the yard, it’s lovely to have him.
“He loves this fast ground and he’s got such a high cruising speed, an enormous stride and, touch wood, he’s a very sound horse.
“Bill is not so keen, Tim (Gredley, owners) is very keen, I’d be quite keen but I think we will have to see what weight he’s got before we commit.
“There’s other possible targets for him like the Canadian International and the Hong Kong race, but there’s a lot to be chewed over and we will enjoy doing it.
“Bear in mind Melbourne is a handicap and if you get a prohibitive weight, there’s no point in going.”
Meanwhile, the tough-as-teak Mehmas knuckled down to claim victory in the Qatar Richmond Stakes.
The Acclamation colt was the most battle-hardened horse in the field with five previous runs under his belt, winning three times and filling the runner-up spot twice.
Carrying a penalty for his victory in the July Stakes at Newmarket three weeks ago, Richard Hannon’s juvenile was always travelling well in the hands of Frankie Dettori, racing alongside the previously unbeaten Blue Point and July Stakes runner-up Intelligence Cross.
As Intelligence Cross dropped away in the final furlong, Mehmas and Blue Point settled down to fight it out and the former’s experience edge showed as he got the better of the argument by a neck.
Blue Point, the 5-6 favourite following a stunning display at Doncaster on his second start, was far from disgraced in finishing second and is bound to learn plenty from the experience.
Intelligence Cross was a clear third.
Dettori said: “He really sticks his head out, he’s not overly big but he has a big heart to compensate for that. He took it to the favourite and he showed what a tenacious horse he is.
“He’s straightforward, he doesn’t really bother. He likes a scrap and I took him to a scrap and he came up trumps
“He doesn’t how to run a bad race, he wears his heart on his sleeve and I’m pleased for Sheikh Joaan, who is here today.”
Dettori is still hunting for his 3,000th winner, with this win taking him to 2,995 successes, and the rider admits he is unlikely to achieve the feat at Goodwood this week as previously hoped.
He added: “I had a couple of near misses yesterday, I don’t think I will get there this week. I will get there when I get there, it’s not important.”
In the first race of the day, You're Hired provided George Materna with a long-held ambition to own a winner at Goodwood after getting the better of entertaining finish in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Stakes.
Although relatively inexperienced compared to majority of his rivals, the Amanda Perrett-trained three-year-old showed plenty of resolve to follow up his maiden win over seven furlongs at Newbury.
Having raced close to the pace throughout the 8-1 shot moved into the lead deep inside the final furlong, before holding rallying long-time leader Ode To Evening by a head, with favourite Stargazer the same distance back in third.
Materna said: “It is my first festival winner after all these years, but we’ve had a few seconds and thirds. I’ve been a member here over 30 years and the last few years I’ve had a box.
“Everything gravitates towards Goodwood week. We go to Ascot for a day, but it is all about Goodwood. It’s fantastic as all my friends and family are here.
“I’ve not had a brilliant season and this is my only horse that has won. We were hopeful as we thought he was a reasonably well-handicapped horse, but in races like this there are often lots of well-handicapped horses.”
The winning trainer added: “He is by Dalakhani so we were not expecting him to be particularly precocious.
“He was very brave as he was a little bit green throughout the race, but he got there in the end. He didn’t have much weight on his back and was lucky to get in the handicap.
“Hopefully he will improve and mature as the year goes on. I’d like to give him a break then maybe bring him back here at the end of August.”
