A gallant Big Orange was denied a history-making third consecutive Group I Goodwood Cup (2m) by the John Gosden-trained three-year-old Stradivarius at Glorious Goodwood overnight.
After taking up his customary position in the lead for Frankie Dettori, Big Orange appeared to be in control of the marathon contest but simply had no answer to the finishing burst of Stradivarius, which was promptly elevated to favouritism for next month's Group I St Leger Stakes (1m 6f 132y) at Doncaster.
"He's run a huge race and I'm very proud of him," Big Orange's trainer Michael Bell told the Racing Post.
"Of course there's a sense of disappointment because we wanted him to win, but equally he's run his heart out so you can't be disappointed with the way he's run.
"Giving weight away on ground that wasn't perfect for him wasn't ideal, but he's run a great race in defeat.
"I'm very proud of how he ran, he laid it down there and looked like winning and then the three-year-old just came and got him."
Big Orange won his last two Goodwood Cups prior to contesting the 2015 and 2016 Melbourne Cups which resulted in a fifth and 10th place finish respectively.
Stradivarius, also a winner during the Royal Ascot carnival in June, will be chasing Gosden's fifth St Leger Stakes after the trainer first won the British Classic in 1996.
"It's a race I love and is a mile and six and a half furlongsround Donny, which is about a similar test as it's an open galloping track, whereas here is all interesting zig-zags and bends," Gosden told the Racing Post.
"Our fella stayed it out well, I knew he'd get the trip.
"Big Orange has a huge heart and he's run with it again but he's run into a three-year-old who is getting 13lb off him."
Godolphin's Qewy, fourth in last year's Melbourne Cup, finished a disappointing second last.
