Big Orange held off a late charge by defending champion Order of St George to win a thrilling edition of the Gold Cup, the feature race of Royal Ascot, on Thursday.

The winning jockey James Doyle took the plaudits for a superb ride, but his heart went out to Italian star Frankie Dettori, who should have been riding Big Orange but for an injured arm that ruled him out of the meeting.

"Unfortunately Frankie couldn't have got the injury at a worse time," said Doyle.

"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'.

"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."

Order of St George looked set to record successive wins as he gained and gained on the long-time pacesetter Big Orange, but Doyle just managed to keep his nose in front as they hit the line.

"This horse is as tough as they get," said Doyle after pulling his ride up to return to the winners' enclosure for the second time this week.

Big Orange's trainer Michael Bell said his heart had been in his mouth as Order of St George gained on his runner at the end of the near two-and-a-half mile race.

"I was just praying for the line and begging for the line to come," said Bell.

"The horse is a superstar - he's a warrior. That's his eighth Pattern (Group/Listed) win and we're extremely lucky to train him."

The Godolphin and Aidan O'Brien duel for supremacy at the royal meeting saw both parties share the spoils in the opening two races of the card.

O'Brien struck first with Sioux Nation claiming a few prized scalps, as Ryan Moore pushed him out to win the Group Two Norfolk Stakes at the surprisingly long odds for the Irish stable of 14/1.

"He has got pure raw speed and is a big powerful horse. We have always loved him since the day he arrived," said O'Brien.

However, having got to within one winner, Godolphin hit back in the Group Three Hampton Court Stakes with Benbatl.

He came storming home under Irishman Oisin Murphy to give him his first ever Royal Ascot winner - celebrated in exuberant style by punching the air in delight - and trainer Saeed bin Suroor his first of the week.

Benbatl also boosted his Epsom Derby form having finished fifth in the blue riband of the flat earlier this month.

"It is better than I dreamt about," said Murphy, referring to breaking his Royal Ascot duck.

"It builds up in your mind and it is good to get it off your back."

Godolphin extended their lead to 5-2 in the last of the day as Atty Persse - named after a British champion trainer in 1930 and who had many winners at Royal Ascot in his day - prevailed under Kieran Shoemark in the King George V Stakes.

Shoemark's assured ride provided further evidence the 22-year-old will live up to O'Brien's prediction that he will be the next great jockey.

Top English trainer John Gosden has had plenty of experience of welcoming winners back at Royal Ascot, but he had to wait until the Ribblesdale Stakes halfway through the card on Thursday for his first this week.

French jockey Olivier Peslier refused to panic when a gap didn't open for him on Coronet in the straight and pulled her to the outside, where a devastating burst of speed carried her past the favourite Mori and gave Gosden his 42nd Royal Ascot winner.

Source: Khaleej Times