Big Orange wins Goodwood Cup

Big Orange teed himself up for a crack at the Melbourne Cup as he continued his improvement with a gutsy win in a three-way finish to a thrilling Qatar Goodwood Cup.

The Duke Of Marmalade gelding was a 25-1 victor in the Princess of Wales’s, seemingly improving for the first-time cheekpieces, and the headgear worked the oracle once more as Big Orange, under a fine ride from Jamie Spencer, clung on by a neck from Northumberland Plate victor Quest For More, who in turn just held off Trip To Paris by a short head for second.

Bell said: ‘He is back with a big bang.

“All three horses deserve great credit, especially Trip To Paris with his penalty”.

“I have been surprised with his progress this year”.

“This is an absolute star this horse”. He just got a breather into him, it was a very good ride and he’s a very good horse.

“Bill (Gredley, owner) is so enthusiastic and he knows his horses inside out”.

“I don’t think he’s a Melbourne Cup horse, as he doesn’t have enough speed”.

As well as the string of recent big victories counting in his favour, Trip to Paris is expected to enjoy the softer surface, while the fact that the Goodwood Cup is half-a-mile shorter than the Gold Cup track could also be a big advantage today. “I would say he ticks a lot of boxes”.

Winning jockey Jamie Spencer said: ‘This horse has a great attitude.

“Silvestre (on Vive Massachusetts Fille) was frying me early on and I was anxious I was expending too much, but he was tough when I needed him to be”.

The two-mile heat is a classy affair nowadays with 2005 victor Sergeant Cecil memorably building on his win to eventually claim Group One gold in France.

“He can only get stronger as the year goes on”.

Trip To Paris is now available at 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $26 with Ladbrokes and he is the most fancied of the Goodwood Cup runners while Fame Game ($13) remains a clear favourite from Hartnell ($17) and Mongolian Khan ($17).

Trip To Paris could clash with the victor in Australia, with Ed Dunlop nominating the “race that stops a nation” as a possible target. I need to look at the programme book, but the Ebor is worth a lot of money and he’s favourite or thereabouts.

“There’s obviously the race on Champions Day at Ascot, but George (Baker) felt that ground wasn’t quite quick enough today, so if that’s the case it’s unlikely to suit in October”. It’s a bit loose, but I’m not using that as an excuse.

John Gosden’s stellar season got better when Shalaa, already an easy victor of the July Stakes at Newmarket, was even more impressive in the Qatar Richmond Stakes.

“I don’t think he’s a Melbourne Cup horse, as he doesn’t have enough speed”.

“If he’s OK I think we’ll go for the Ebor next, it seems the sensible thing to do”. He hit the front and just wandered about a bit which can happen at Goodwood.’. “At Ascot he had the rail to run against”.

“He can only get better and the owners are very keen to go to Melbourne”. It will be interesting to see what weight Mr Bell’s horse gets as well. “We could well go there but we will see – I don’t know whether it is a year too soon, but it will be considered”.

Paddy Power gave Big Orange a 25-1 quote for Melbourne.

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