Twelve months ago, Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) entered the G2 Qatar Goodwood Cup on a high, having won the G2 Princess of Wales's S. and duly landed the prestigious staying prize. After an even more impressive success in that Newmarket contest than he managed last year, Bill Gredley's 5-year-old is in a strong position to complete the double-double on Thursday. Inflicting a heavy defeat on the classy The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Exosphere (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) when making all over 12 furlongs there July 7, he appears the chief protagonist among the older horses and trainer Michael Bell is in bullish mood.
“Visually it was a career-best at Newmarket last time and the handicapper agrees–he's on a career-high mark now of 117,” he said. “You could argue he should be a little bit higher on some form lines. It was a good effort and he certainly does not look to have gone backwards. He didn't lose much weight and obviously there was no traveling involved. It makes it much easier when you are playing at home.” Bell continued, “We are the highest-rated in the race and he deserves to be favourite provided the rain stays away. He's very effective on fast ground. The bigger the horse, the longer they take to fill their frame, just like a human. He will probably be at his optimum physically as a 6- or 7-year-old, but then it's a question of whether the engine is as good. He's probably 10 kilos heavier than when winning the race last year, so he is a slightly bigger, stronger-framed horse.”
What makes life difficult for the older brigade in these “Cup” races, particularly at this time of year, is the weight-for-age terms that they are forced to race under. Based on the old premise that the longer the distance, the weaker the chances of the 3-year-olds, Big Orange and co. have to give an astonishing 17 pounds to Sword Fighter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). As his stablemate Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) proved when storming to an emphatic G1 Irish St Leger success in September, it is impossible for the 4-year-olds and up to give away that much weight to such a strong younger rival. Like him, Sword Fighter has won the Curragh Cup–now a Group 2–over a mile and three quarters at The Curragh June 26 and he had already demonstrated his ability over this trip when taking Royal Ascot's Listed Queen's Vase nine days previously. With a few St Leger candidates in his stable, Aidan O'Brien has opted to divert Sword Fighter here to capitalise on the weight concession and Kevin Buckley, UK representative for Coolmore, said, “He has come out of the race at The Curragh very well. If the ground is good, or good-to-firm, Colm [O'Donoghue] seems confident that he will handle it.”
Successful in the G2 Doncaster Cup over two-miles-two in September and in the G3 Henry II S. over slightly further than this at Sandown May 26, the enigmatic Pallasator (GB) (Motivator {GB}) is another who has to enter equations. Only 12th in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot June 16, Qatar Racing's 7-year-old was an unlucky fourth in the Listed Esher S. back over the Henry II course and distance last time July 2 and the latter outing proves that he needs things to fall right. Mohammed Jaber's Sheikhzayedroad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) outran his 40-1 odds when third in the Gold Cup and that was his first try over an extreme trip. The 2014 GI Northern Dancer Turf S. hero, who also captured the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy over 14 furlongs at Meydan Mar. 3, has a class edge over several of his opponents and seems to be in a better place than when sixth in this in 2015.
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