Princess of Wales's Arqana Racing Club Stakes |
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| Group 2, Newmarket 15:15 £100,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 9th July 2015 | |
1 Big Orange 25/1
2 Second Step 4/1
3 Gospel Choir 100/30
8 ran Distances: ½l, hd, 2l
TIME 2m 29.00s (slow by 2.50s)
Big Orange puts his more fancied rivals in their place when he wins the Princess Of Wales's Stakes at 25-1
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Jamie Spencer set the pace on the Michael Bell-trained four-year-old but looked as though he was going to be swamped at the business end.
However, once his stamina kicked in, Big Orange found more under pressure to claim Group Two honours by half a length.
Second Step was second, with Gospel Choir just a head further back.
Spencer said: "He did well. We went a nice even gallop, I stepped it up from the five and kept stretching and stretching.
"When Ryan (Moore, on Gospel Choir) came to me he didn't get away from me. He only went a head or a neck up.
"We were in good shape then because I hadn't gone for everything. In fairness, he knuckled down well in the final furlong.
"Michael was very happy with the horse. We were tilting at windmills a little bit looking at the form, but when a horse is telling the trainer he's happy then you've got to take a chance and have a go and it worked out well."
Bell said: "He was in great form. The cheekpieces just helped him dropping back in trip.
"It was a very good ride from a very good jockey. The modern word is 'fractions' and he got them spot on.
"It's great. He's just a star horse. Mr (Bill) Gredley (owner) bred him, he lives locally and we decided to run him at the July meeting as he loves to have runners here. It's just a great result.
"This was a nice surprise. He'd get a penalty in the Goodwood Cup, so where he will go next I don't know. I'd love to go to Melbourne with him one day, but that's another conversation."
Gredley said: "We always thought he'd have a chance over a mile and a half and he's got a lot of stamina. He's a big, gangly horse.
"I think we'll keep him at that trip. Why change a winning team? We'll just see what's around.
"I think he lost the race at Chester (the Ormonde Stakes) in the first couple of furlongs as he had something take him on."
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Luca Cumani, trainer of runner-up Second Step, said: "He ran very well. The 3lb penalty's made a difference, but it was still a very good performance.
"It proved he's consistent and still progressing.
"He'll go for a Group One in Germany in Berlin on August 9 next."
Princess Of Wales's Stakes (Group 2)
£100,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm
| Pos | Draw | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (1) | Big Orange 25/1 | J P Spencer 9-2 |
M L W Bell | 4 | |
| 2nd | (6) | ½ | Second Step (IRE) 4/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-5 |
L M Cumani | 4 |
| 3rd | (5) | hd | Gospel Choir 10/3 | R L Moore 9-2 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 6 |
| 4th | (7) | 2 | Ayrad (IRE) 16/1 | L Dettori 9-2 |
R Varian | 4 |
| 5th | (3) | ¾ | Hillstar 6/1 | T E Durcan 9-2 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 5 |
| 6th | (8) | 2½ | Mahsoob 5/2f | P Hanagan 9-2 |
J H M Gosden | 4 |
| 6th | (4) | d.h | Niceofyoutotellme 14/1 | James Doyle 9-2 |
R M Beckett | 6 |
| 8th | (2) | 4½ | Sheikhzayedroad 13/2 | Martin Lane 9-2 |
D M Simcock | 6 |
