Gran Premio di Milano
Orange Bay was an exceptionally good-looking bay horse with no white markings bred in the United Kingdom by his owner Dr Carlo Vittadini (1915–2007). He was from the last crop of foals sired in Britain by the Eclipse Stakes winner Canisbay, who was then exported to Italy. Orange Bay's dam, Orange Triumph, failed to win a race, but came from an established Italian family, being a granddaughter of the Oaks d'Italia winner Fior d'Orchidea whose other descendants included Ovac (Premio Parioli), Oise (Gran Premio di Milano, Orsa Maggiore (Oaks d'Italia, Gran Premio di Milano), Premio Roma) and Orvieto (Gran Criterium). The colt was sent into training with Mario Benetti in Italy.