THE revamped Goodwood schedule, with the Group 1 Qatar Goodwood Cup now the opening day highlight, may have led to traffic problems outside the course.

However, everyone was safely inside by the time Big Orange, looking to complete a hat-trick in the famous old race, was denied by John Gosden’s three-year-old son of Sea The Stars, Stradivarius.

Although the ground looked in perfect condition, rain had eased the going to a degree and Big Orange would probably have preferred it a shade faster. He was soon bowling along in the lead, with old rival Sheikhzayedroad never far away. The latter cried enough early in the straight and Frankie Dettori sent Big Orange for home, moving across to race up the centre of the track.

Clearly much too good for the older generation, he battled on well but Stradivarius, 6/1, making the most of a 13lb weight concession which is sure to ignite the debate about allowances, stayed against the far rail and engaged in battle under the hat-trick seeking Andrea Atzeni, who later completed a tremendous four-timer.

Tussle

There was a short, sharp tussle but the younger horse soon went on and scored by a length and three-quarters with Desert Skyline third. Wicklow Brave did well in fourth but there were several disappointments, including Pallasator in sixth, last year’s Epsom Derby runner-up US Army Ranger in eighth and Northumberland Plate winner Higher Power in 11th.

Stradivarius, lightly-raced, had won the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot over a mile and three-quarters and is clearly improving rapidly. He looks a natural St Leger candidate and Doncaster is where John Gosden wants to go.

“It’s full marks to Peter Shoemark, our racing office manager,” the trainer admitted, “He suggested making the entry and I wondered if he was mad. But the horse would have had a penalty for his Group 2 win in the Queen’s Vase if running elsewhere so I ended up thinking it was right to come here.

“We go to the St Leger now, which is a race that I love and it’s a mile and six furlongs around Doncaster, which is probably a similar test to the two miles here as it’s an open, galloping track.

“I don’t think the three-year-olds have an enormous advantage. Last year it would have been 16lb so it’s changed anyway. Full marks to the horse and owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen, who has put an awful lot into the game.”

“I’m very proud of the way Big Orange ran, said trainer Michael Bell. “He laid it out there and looked like winning but then the three-year-old came and got him. He’s run his heart out on ground that was softer than ideal. He’s in the Irish St Leger but I don’t know because he looked tired after the race today. Let’s meet today’s winner at level weights next year and see what happens.”

Atzeni, in unstoppable form, produced another fine effort at a course he rides so well.

“He was always going well and I was confident two furlongs out because Big Orange wasn’t getting away from us”, he said. “I stayed on the far rails because I didn’t want to get into a battle with him too soon but when we moved alongside I knew we’d win.”