16.20 Royal Ascot - Gold Cup
1st Big Orange 5/1
2nd Order Of St George 5/6 favourite
3rd Harbour Law 33/1
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Big Orange fought off Order Of St George to run out a game winner of a thrilling Gold Cup Royal Ascot.
James Doyle, sitting in for the sidelined Frankie Dettori, gave Michael Bell's charge a wonderful ride from the front and stole a march on his rivals when going clear of the chasing pack two furlongs out.
Ryan Moore switched last year's winner Order Of St George wide to challenge and he began to close ominously. However the winner wasn't for passing and fended his rival off by a head, the pair coming close together in the final strides.
They were clear of last year's Ladbrokes St Leger winner Harbour Law in third.
Reaction
James Doyle: "Blimey, he's as tough as they get! Full credit to everyone. It was great to get the call-up. Unfortunately Frankie couldn't have got the injury at a worse time.
"Frankie's a real star. He called me a couple of nights ago and I was probably on the phone for about 20 minutes getting instructions and him telling me all about the horse. He was spot on.
"You can't do it without the help of everyone. Frankie said to me 'whatever you do, don't interfere with him'. He knows what speed he wants to go at and you just sit as a passenger.
"I had Frankie's voice in my head as I just eased him out and let him go to the front and the rest was history.
"He got a little bit lonely. I wish the second horse had joined me a bit earlier and I think he'd have won by further then."
Michael Bell: "I can't give the horse enough credit. He just puts it on the line and it's just fantastic.
"It was an epic race. Order Of St George is a fantastic horse ridden by a brilliant jockey. I can't describe the feeling of pride I have in my horse.
"I was just praying for the line and begging for the line to come. The horse is a superstar - he's a warrior. That's his eighth Pattern win and we're extremely lucky to train him."
Winning owner Bill Gredley: "I get quite a bit of fan mail for him, and it's great to have a horse the public love.
"I don't know what he will go on to do in the future, but it can't get much better than winning the Gold Cup at Ascot."
