Big Orange’s historic bid falls short

Tom Walter - Wednesday August 2

A gallant Big Orange was denied a history-making third consecutive Group I Goodwood Cup (2m) by the John Gosden-trained three-year-old Stradivarius at Glorious Goodwood overnight.

Stradivarius defeats Big Orange in the 2017 Goodwood Cup. Photo: Racing Post

After taking up his customary position in the lead for Frankie Dettori, Big Orange appeared to be in control of the marathon contest but simply had no answer to the finishing burst of Stradivarius, which was promptly elevated to favouritism for next month's Group I St Leger Stakes (1m 6f 132y) at Doncaster.

"He's run a huge race and I'm very proud of him," Big Orange's trainer Michael Bell told the Racing Post.

"Of course there's a sense of disappointment because we wanted him to win, but equally he's run his heart out so you can't be disappointed with the way he's run.

"Giving weight away on ground that wasn't perfect for him wasn't ideal, but he's run a great race in defeat.

"I'm very proud of how he ran, he laid it down there and looked like winning and then the three-year-old just came and got him."

Big Orange won his last two Goodwood Cups prior to contesting the 2015 and 2016 Melbourne Cups which resulted in a fifth and 10th place finish respectively.

Stradivarius, also a winner during the Royal Ascot carnival in June, will be chasing Gosden's fifth St Leger Stakes after the trainer first won the British Classic in 1996.

"It's a race I love and is a mile and six and a half furlongsround Donny, which is about a similar test as it's an open galloping track, whereas here is all interesting zig-zags and bends," Gosden told the Racing Post.

"Our fella stayed it out well, I knew he'd get the trip.

"Big Orange has a huge heart and he's run with it again but he's run into a three-year-old who is getting 13lb off him."

Godolphin's Qewy, fourth in last year's Melbourne Cup, finished a disappointing second last.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for Headwater
With a plethora of racing all over Australia on Cup Day there were opportunities aplenty and Vinery Stud’s value sire Headwater made his mark with a new stakes-winner on Perth at Ascot where three year-old filly London’s Image captured the Listed WATC Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m).
Oaks Pedigree Preview – Who is Bred to Stay?
The $1million Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) is the highlight at Flemington on Thursday and with all of the fillies on trial at the trip, pedigree can be a good indicator and in a field of 14 that features only two stakes-winners and no Group I winners, it could be a year for an upset result.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Darley Announce European Fees 2025
Darley have announced fees on their roster off 22 sires standing in the UK, Ireland and France with Dubawi heading the list at a fee of £350,000 for the third year in a row.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!