Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}-Miss Brown To You {Ire}, by Fasliyev), winner of the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2017, has been retired from racing at age eight after aggravating a suspensory ligament injury that left him on the sidelines most of last year.
Racing as a homebred for Bill and Tim Gredley and trained by Michael Bell, Big Orange reeled off his first two pattern-race wins at four in the G2 Princess of Wales's S. at Newmarket and the G2 Goodwood Cup. He made his first overseas trip later that season when fifth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the G1 Melbourne Cup. He repeated in the Princess of Wales's and Goodwood Cup the following summer but his career-best came the following June when he denied the defending Gold Cup winner Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a stirring front-running performance. Big Orange made just one start last year, finishing down the field in Meydan's G2 Dubai Gold Cup before his injury was discovered, and the bay had been warming up for a return at Bell's Newmarket yard.
“He'd only been trotting and was due to be re-scanned on Monday, but we brought it forward before he started cantering and there's a tiny bit of heat on the leg and the warning was there,” said Bell. “It was a no-brainer really, given it had flared up just through trotting.
“He's sound, he's gone back to Stetchworth [Park Stud] and the Gredleys will make a decision on what he will do in retirement, but he's got a home whatever happens. It just depends how active he is in retirement. He does like being involved and likes a routine, but Bill and Tim are horsemen through and through and will find something he is happy doing.”
Paying tribute to Big Orange's racecourse performances, Bell added, “The Gold Cup at Ascot is right up there with my favourite days, full stop–it was just a fantastic horse race. I've been very lucky to be the guy that trained him. He gave his all, the Gredleys loved him and we've loved training him. He'll leave a big hole to fill, but you feel very lucky to have these horses.”
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