Melbourne Cup hopeful Big Orange will attempt to continue his winning form with a third stakes victory this season in the Lonsdale Cup at York.
Despite being beaten out of sight on his first two starts this season, the four-year-old has since looked a reformed character, winning the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket and the Goodwood Cup next time out.
“Big Orange has been in good form since his Goodwood win and physically looks in very good shape,” trainer Michael Bell said.
“Melbourne is very much the plan and the Lonsdale will be his last run before the Melbourne Cup.
“He has had a stellar summer and hopefully it continues on Friday. His win at Newmarket came as a bit of a surprise but we expected him to run very well at Goodwood and he did it well.
“It is great that he has come good. He is a lovely horse – a strong galloper with lots of scope and a really great attitude.
“Although he only beat Quest For More and Trip To Paris by a neck at Goodwood, he battled on very tenaciously and looked to hold the upper hand in the closing stages.”
The Ed Dunlop-trained Trip To Paris can also confirm his Melbourne Cup mission as he bids to accompany stablemate Red Cadeaux, runner-up in the Cup three times.
Simenon, fourth in Melbourne two years ago, is also in the mix for the Lonsdale Cup on Friday (Saturday AEST).
