Big Orange showed battling qualities to win consecutive Goodwood Cups
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Orange battles to retain Goodwood Cup crown
Report: Glorious Goodwood, Thursday, Qatar Goodwood Cup (Group 2) 2m, 3yo+
BIG ORANGE refused to be passed as he produced a gritty display to retain his Goodwood Cup crown as the 11-4 favourite for trainer Michael Bell.
Pallasator could not quite find enough in the closing stages and finished second, with Sheikhzayedroad third.
With the win Big Orange emulated the feat of Double Trigger in 1997 and 1998 in achieving back-to-back wins in the Goodwood Cup.
How the action unfolded
Jamie Spencer set a searching gallop on board Big Orange, however it was the steely determination to respond to the challenge of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Sword Fighter and more strongly by Pallasator that won him the race.
RELATED LINKS, Goodwood Cup result
Indeed Pallasator, last year’s fourth, appeared best placed to strike as he loomed ominously alongside Big Orange under Oisin Murphy approaching the three furlong marker. However, Big Orange found more in the final furlong to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths, going away from the Sir Mark Prescott-trained 9-1 chance.
The race was not without early incident as Oriental Fox was squeezed for room by Sandro Botticelli moving through on his inside, causing Joe Fanning to take evasive action which all but put an end to his chances.
Winning jockey Jamie Spencer was delighted with the attitude of his mount. “I always love a horse that wears his heart on his sleeve,” he said. “He’s a big galloper and he’s got stronger since last year so he’s able to maintain that gallop for a lot longer.
“On flat tracks he’s much better as you can just let him go whereas you have to slow him down around the bends here. He was tough as they came at me a long way out. He tries really hard.”
International campaign beckons
Big Orange is no stranger to trips aboard as he competed in last year’s Melbourne Cup, finishing fifth, and Michael Bell suggested he could return to Australia.
“He’s an enormous horse and while it’s a bit of a cliche he is getting better with age. We’re so lucky to have him. He loves fast ground, has a high cruising speed and a huge stride.
“Bill’s [Gredley, owner] not so keen on Melbourne, Tim [Gredley, owner] is keen and I’d be quite keen, but we need to see what weight he has. The Canadian International and the Hong Kong Vase are both options for him too.”
In the aftermath of his Goodwood win Big Orange was cut to as short as 16-1 for the Flemington showpiece, however Paddy Power and William Hill went to 20-1.
Mehmas (left) gets the better of Blue Point in the closing stages
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Mehmas shows true grit for Hannon in Richmond
Report: Glorious Goodwood, Thursday, Qatar Richmond Stakes (Group 2) 6f, 2yo colts and geldings
EXPERIENCE counted for plenty as Mehmas knuckled down to burst the bubble of Godolphin’s Blue Point and provide trainer Richard Hannon with a first Goodwood winner this week.
RELATED LINKS, Race result
Mehmas might have been third choice of the four runners in the market at 7-2 but he has been a thorough professional this season.
Again he showed a willing attitude to notch his fourth victory on his sixth start at the expense of the highly-touted Blue Point, having just his third outing but sent off the 5-6 favourite.
The Hannon name has been synonymous with the meeting down the years – not least in this race which the stable has now won six times in nine years – and the trainer was thrilled to get off the mark following some near-misses over the first two days.
Dettori delighted
Frankie Dettori also had to wait until day three for a winner to go within five victories of the magical 3,000-mark, and he was impressed with what was underneath him.
He said: “He really sticks his head out. He’s not overly big but he’s got a big heart to compensate. He took it to the favourite and he showed how tenacious he is.
“He’s straightforward and he likes a scrap. I took him for a scrap and he came out on top. He doesn’t know how to run a bad race and I’m so pleased for [owner] Sheikh Joaan.”
With his diminutive nature, Mehmas had been labelled as a genuine two-year-old and connections will look to strike at the highest level with a colt who finished second to next year’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas favourite Caravaggio in the Coventry Stakes.
“He’s very tough and is a horse we like a lot; the sheikh likes him and I love him more now,” said Hannon. “He’ll be utilised this year as a two-year-old and we want to win a Group 1 with him.
“We’ll have to think about the Morny or the National Stakes for him. What he does after that we’ll have to wait and see. I wouldn’t put seven furlongs or a mile beyond him.”
Paddy Power cut Mehmas into 8-1 (from 14) for the Dewhurst Stakes and introduced him at 14-1 for next year’s Commonwealth Cup. His odds for the Guineas also shortened to a general 16-1, while some firms clipped Caravaggio into 3-1 (from 7-2).
Rematch in Morny?
Blue Point caused quite a stir when bolting up by 11 lengths on his second start at Doncaster, even drawing comparisons with the great Frankel in some quarters, and while he ran a solid race he could not match the street-fighter in Mehmas.
A potential rematch could be on the cards as Charlie Appleby pointed the way to the Prix Morny.
“The winner is a nice horse who has been placed at Royal Ascot and is a July Stakes winner,” he said. “His experience caught us out and it was the first time that he’s really been asked to go about his business.
“He will come on for that and he’s a talented horse. We will probably look to the Morny and give the Gimcrack miss.”
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Intelligence Cross, runner-up to Mehmas in the July Stakes last time, trailed home the front two by three lengths.
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GOODWOOD RESULTS |
GOING: Good To Firm (watered) 8.4, Stands’ side:8.3, Far side:8.5. Weather conditions: light rain, murky and poor visibility from races 3 to 6.
STALLS: Straight course – Stands’ side; Round course – Inside
2:00 - Matchbook Betting Exchange Stakes (Handicap)1m2f, Class 2, £31,125.00 1 You’re Hired 9/1 NR: Sabre Squadron (IRE), Speed Company (IRE) 15 ran Distances: hd, hd, ½l Jockey: Martin Dwyer WIN £10.80 PL £3.30, £4.00, £2.00 |
2:35 - Qatar Richmond Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)6f, Class 1, £113,420.00 1 Mehmas 7/2 NR: Ardad (IRE) 4 ran Distances: nk, 3l, 2¼l Jockey: Frankie Dettori WIN £4.00 |
3:10 - Qatar Goodwood Cup (British Champions Series) (Group 2)2m, Class 1, £176,991.91 1 Big Orange 11/4F NR: Astronereus (IRE) 14 ran Distances: 1¼l, hd, 2l Jockey: Jamie Spencer WIN £3.30 PL £1.50, £3.10, £3.30 |
3:45 - Markel Insurance Fillies’ Stakes (Registered as the Lillie Langtry Stakes) (Group 3)1m6f, Class 1, £56,710.00 1 California 9/2 7 ran Distances: 1l, 1¼l, ½l Jockey: Robert Havlin WIN £5.50 PL £2.50, £7.90 |
4:20 - Dove 100 Colours EBF British Stallion Studs Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (Plus 10 Race)7f, Class 2, £16,172.50 1 Rhododendron 10/11F NR: Miss Patience 12 ran Distances: 1¾l, 1l, ¾l Jockey: Ryan Moore WIN £1.90 PL £1.10, £1.50, £14.50 |
4:55 - Telegraph Nursery Stakes (Handicap)7f, Class 2, £12,938.00 1 Bear Valley 8/1 NR: Challow (IRE), Hurricane Rush(IRE) 15 ran Distances: 4l, nk, 1¾l Jockey: James McDonald WIN £8.30 PL £2.70, £1.50, £3.50 |
5:30 - Tatler Stakes (Handicap)5f, Class 3, £12,450.00 1 Laughton 13/2 19 ran Distances: ½l, shd, hd Jockey: Shane Gray WIN £7.90 PL £2.10, £2.60, £5.00, £5.90 |
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