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Big Orange secures Gold Cup glory in epic renewal at Royal Ascot
Watch how Big Orange held off the late challenge of Order Of St George in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot plus interviews with all of his delighted connections
By Racinguk.com staff
Big Orange repelled the late thrust of defending champion Order Of St George to win an exhilerating Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
Trained by Michael Bell and ridden by James Doyle in the absence of the injured Frankie Dettori, the 5-1 shot was towards the head of affairs throughout and showed incredible heart to hold the fast-finishing 5-6 favourite right on the line.
Last year's St Leger hero Harbour Law kept on well for third.
Doyle was positive from the off, disputing the early lead with Quest For More before opting to do it the hard way and attempt to make virtually all the running.
Harbour Law was also noticeably prominent through the early stages, while Ryan Moore put Order Of St George to sleep at the back of the field, giving Big Orange a healthy head start.
Doyle displayed an excellent judgement of pace from the front and was still well in control turning for home, just as Moore started to really stoke up Order Of St George - who had looked in a spot of bother on the turn for home - for his challenge.
Big Orange fended off the run of Harbour Law, before Moore delivered his mount inside the final half-furlong.
It looked as though Big Orange would be swallowed up, but he kept finding for pressure and while the pair got close in the finish, Bell's runner was on top by a short head at the line.
It was another six lengths back to Harbour Law.
Doyle said: "Blimey, he's as tough as they get!
"Full credit to everyone. It was great to get the call-up. Unfortunately Frankie couldn't have got the injury at a worse time.
"Frankie's a real star. He called me a couple of nights ago and I was probably on the phone for about 20 minutes getting instructions and him telling me all about the horse. He was spot on.
"You can't do it without the help of everyone. Frankie said to me 'whatever you do, don't interfere with him'. He knows what speed he wants to go at and you just sit as a passenger.
"I had Frankie's voice in my head as I just eased him out and let him go to the front and the rest was history.
"He got a little bit lonely. I wish the second horse had joined me a bit earlier and I think he'd have won by further then."
Winning owner Bill Gredley said of the six-year-old: "I get quite a bit of fan mail for him, and it's great to have a horse the public love.
"I don't know what he will go on to do in the future, but it can't get much better than winning the Gold Cup at Ascot."
Bell confirmed Big Orange will now bid for a third successive win in the Goodwood Cup on August 3.
The gelding has run in the last two renewals of the Melbourne Cup, finishing fifth and 10th, but Gredley said: "We're not going to Melbourne."
Aidan O'Brien said of Order Of St George: "He's run a very good race. I'm not sure where he'll go next. We'll see how he is."
Connections of Harbour Law was thrilled with his effort in defeat.
Ian Mongan, husband of trainer Laura, said: "Jim (Crowley) felt if there had been cut in the ground he'd have been on the premises.
"I think we'll see the best of Harbour Law towards the end of the year in races like the Irish St Leger and the Prix du Cadran.
"That will be his forte, but I think it was a quality Gold Cup. The first two are class horses and our horse is only a four-year-old."
Ralph Beckett was pleased with the performance of the fourth home, She Is No Lady, but could offer no excuses for the disappointing effort of the well-fancied Simple Verse, who trailed home last of 14 runners.
"She Is No Lady ran terrifically well. She's all guts," said the trainer.
"We'll think about the Goodwood Cup. Her best form had been with juice in the ground until today, so that says it all. We'll see how we go.
"Simple Verse seems fine."
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