Big Orange has 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 the Goodwood Cup.
The Michael Bell-trained four-year-old had won a Group Two over a mile-and-a-half (2400m) at Newmarket last time out, a performance which earned him a higher official rating than Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris.
The Ed Dunlop-trained Trip To Paris had a 4lb (2kg) penalty to contend with this time and ultimately it made the difference between winning and losing.
Also in the shake up was Roger Charlton’s Northumberland Plate hero Quest For More and he handled the step up to Group company with aplomb but was just beaten in a photo by a neck, with a short head back to Trip To Paris.
“He is an absolute star, this horse. He’s so genuine and is a pleasure to train. I can’t sing his praises highly enough,” Bell said.
“I think Melbourne is the plan. He obviously stays two miles and he’s got the boot to win a Group Two over a mile and a half, so I would say he ticks a lot of the boxes.”
Bookmaker Paddy Power made Big Orange a 25-1 quote for the Melbourne Cup.
Australia is also still an option for Trip To Paris, while runner-up Quest For More is likely to revert to handicap company for the Ebor with trainer Roger Charlton feeling he does not posses the necessary speed for Australia
Ed Dunlop said Trip To Paris was on target to accompany his stablemate, three-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux, to Australia.
“I just wonder whether he did hit the front and then he just wandered around a little bit which can happen at Goodwood. Obviously at Ascot he had the rail to run up,” he said.
“I will have to ask the owners, but they are very keen to go to Melbourne and it will be interesting to see what weight Mr Bell’s horse has going to Melbourne as well.
“We could well go there, we’ll see but whether it’s a year too soon, I don’t know, but it will be considered.”
