Dubai: Big Orange, runner-up in the Dubai Gold Cup (Group 2) in March, looked every bit the class act when posting back-to-back victories in the Princess of Wales’s Arqana Racing Club Stakes (Group 2) on the opening day of Newmarket’s July Festival on Thursday.
Partnered by Australia’s leading rider James McDonald, who is Godolphin’s retained rider Down Under, Michael Bell’s charge made all the running in the 2,400 metre contest to post a comfortable 2 1/2 length victory over The Grey Gatsby (Jamie Spencer) while Exosphere (Ryan Moore) was a 1/2 length back in third.
Following his success 12 months ago, Bell’s stayer went on to win the Goodwood Cup (Group 2) before finishing an excellent fifth in the Melbourne Cup (Group 1) in Australia.
Big Orange began his five-year-old career with two creditable performances when second to the high-class Vazaribad in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan before taking third place behind Exosphere in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.
Godolphin hopeful Elite Army, winner of the Buckhounds Stakes at Ascot, was held up in fourth for most of the trip before he was asked for his effort by James Doyle at the two furlong post. However, Saeed Bin Surour’s trainee could not find more and weekend inside the final furlong to finish sixth of seven.
Bell, who before Thursday’s race stated that Big Orange is a bigger and stronger horse than he was in 2015, was delighted and told Channel 4 Racing: “I couldn’t believe they left him alone in front — especially racing in Indian file as they have much more ground to make up from behind.
“He’ll just keep going, we know he gets two miles, he wasn’t going to stop.
“He’s the most charming horse to train, he’s a joy to have around, he was bred up the road by Bill Gredley (owner) and I’m pleased for James McDonald as he’s a lovely guy.”
Commenting on Big Orange’s performance McDonald said: “He was pretty happy out there and he gave me a beautiful ride. He’s an absolute gentleman and a pleasure to ride.”
Earlier in the afternoon Godolphin’s Prize Money, sent off as the 9/4 favourite in the Group 2 Bahrain Trophy, failed to stay the 2,600 metres trip and could only finish eighth of nine runners in a race won by Irish challenger Housesofparliament, the mount of Ryan Moore.
Victory saw the winner cut to 10/1 for the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster on September 10.
Meanwhile, Bin Surour’s Silver Line ran a big race to finish a close fourth in the Group 2 Arqana July Stakes over a straight five furlongs.
Ridden by James Doyle, the grey son of Dark Angel raced close to the pace and was hard ridden inside the first furlong, only to be narrowly outpaced by the winner, Mehmas, the mount of Frankie Dettori, Intelligence Corss (Ryan Moore) and Broken Stones (Jamie Spencer).
