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23 Mar 2017

Goodwood Cup treble the main goal for Big Orange

big orange

Michael Bell has said the Qatar Goodwood Cup will again be the main priority for Big Orange once his star stayer has run in Dubai on Saturday.

Big Orange has won the past two renewals of the Goodwood Cup and will make history if he wins the £500,000 showpiece, which forms part of the Long Distance division of the QIPCO British Champions Series, for the third year in succession in August.

Double Trigger is the only other triple winner of the race in the modern era but his victories (1995, 97 and 98) were not achieved consecutively.

“We’ll get this race [at Meydan] out the way and then organise his season,” Bell said on Thursday. “Goodwood is very much on his agenda – defending his crown is bang up there. The Gold Cup could also be on his radar.”

Big Orange has never previously run in the Gold Cup, although he does boast winning form at Ascot and was fourth in the Queen’s Vase at the royal meeting in 2014.

On Saturday, he will attempt to go one better than last year in the Dubai Gold Cup under Frankie Dettori, but Bell believes the combination have plenty on their plate.

“Big Orange’s preparation has gone very well and he’s in great shape but it’s a deeper race than last year,” he said.

Quest For More, Sheikzayedroad and Trip To Paris feature among the opposition. Like Big Orange, they all boast at least one victory in the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Picture courtesy of Racingfotos.com