Ascot, England // Big Orange dug deep to repel the reigning champion Order Of St George in a thunderous final 200 metres to the Gold Cup here on Thursday.
The huge stayer had led for much of the first 3,800 metres under James Doyle, and much as with 12 months ago, Ryan Moore and Order Of St George picked off tiring runners in the straight only to go down at the line by a short head.
To underline the quality of the form, St Leger winner Harbour Law was six lengths back in third.
Big Orange was well beaten into fourth behind Vazirabad on soft ground at Meydan Racecourse in March, but on rattling fast ground he truly showed his mettle.
“He is an absolute superstar and he has a heart as big as himself,” trainer Michael Bell said.
“He wants to race and he is a colossus of a racehorse and on fast ground at the height of the summer he is a monster.
“It is the feature race of the meeting, an epic race, taking on a very god horse and beating him in a proper horse race. I have enormous pride in him and the team at home.”
On the day when Godolphin confirmed that Joe Osborne would step up from his interim role to become the permanent chief executive it was only fitting the Dubai-based operation had a winner and that Saeed bin Suroor should train it.
Bin Suroor brought to an end the longest Royal Ascot drought he had ever experienced when Benbatl built on his fifth in the Derby to win the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes under Oisin Murphy.
Bin Suroor had not won at the royal meeting since Elite Army won the King George V Handicap three years ago and it was his first Group race here since Tha’ir took the Chesham Stakes in 2012.
As soon as Benbatl crossed the line half a length ahead of Coolmore’s Orderofthegarter and Ryan Moore, Bin Suroor’s flashy smile was there for all to see.
“In the Derby he ran well as he was too far back and finished really strongly,” Bin Suroor said. “The horse is very backwards and I looked after him during the winter.
“He is a very honest horse and could be anything for the future.”
When asked how this timely victory felt after the departure of former CEO John Ferguson he added: “I am very positive. So far, so good.”
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