Big Orange handed trainer Michael Bell a timely boost when demonstrating his battling qualities to gain a surprise success in the Princess of Wales's Arqana Racing Club Stakes at Newmarket.
Although looking progressive at the back end of last season the four-year-old had shown little in both his runs to date this term, leaving him with something to find with the principal players in what looked an above-average renewal of the mile-and-a-half Group Two prize.
In a switch of tactics from his last run the 25-1 shot was sent straight into an uncontested lead by Jamie Spencer.
Having dictated matters up front from the outset it looked as though the Bill Gredley-owned gelding was set to be swamped approaching the final three furlongs as a host of challengers lined up with promising looking runs in behind.
Just as Gospel Choir and Second Step were set to go on and fight out the finish, Big Orange pulled out more under a full drive from former champion jockey Spencer in the final furlong to put his head back in front again and claim a hard-fought success by half a length.
The big disappointment was the previously unbeaten Royal Ascot winner Mahsoob, who finished a well-held sixth after appearing to fail to see out the trip.
Bell said: "He was in great form. The cheekpieces just helped him dropping back in trip.
"It was a very good ride from a very good jockey. The modern word is 'fractions' and he got them spot on.
"It's great. He's just a star horse. Mr Gredley bred him, he lives locally and we decided to run him at the July meeting as he loves to have runners here. It's just a great result.
"This was a nice surprise. He'd get a penalty in the Goodwood Cup, so where he will go next I don't know. I'd love to go to Melbourne with him one day, but that's another conversation."
Although headed momentarily by Gospel Choir, winning rider Spencer felt his mount still had plenty left in reserve.
Spencer said: "He did well. We went a nice even gallop, I stepped it up from the five and kept stretching and stretching.
"When Ryan (Moore, on Gospel Choir) came to me he didn't get away from me. He only went a head or a neck up.
"We were in good shape then because I hadn't gone for everything. In fairness, he knuckled down well in the final furlong.
"Michael was very happy with the horse. We were tilting at windmills a little bit looking at the form, but when a horse is telling the trainer he's happy then you've got to take a chance and have a go and it worked out well."
As for future plans, winning owner Gredley said he is likely to be kept over a mile and a half.
Gredley said: "We always thought he'd have a chance over a mile and a half and he's got a lot of stamina. He's a big, gangly horse.
"I think we'll keep him at that trip. Why change a winning team? We'll just see what's around.
"I think he lost the race at Chester (the Ormonde Stakes) in the first couple of furlongs as he had something take him on."
Luca Cumani is to try runner-up Second Step at Group One level following his solid effort in defeat.
He said: "He ran very well. The 3lb penalty's made a difference, but it was still a very good performance.
"It proved he's consistent and still progressing.
"He'll go for a Group One in Germany in Berlin on August 9 next."
