Big Evs produces another big performance for Mick Appleby
Big Evs proved his surprise Royal Ascot success was no fluke with victory in the Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.
Narrowly beaten on his debut at Redcar in May, Mick Appleby’s juvenile was sent off at 20-1 for the Windsor Castle Stakes but ran out a clear-cut winner.
He was the 9-4 joint-favourite to follow up at Group Three level and a smart start meant he was soon leading the field in the hands of Jason Hart.
Purosangue came at him hard as the post loomed, but Big Evs kept responding to pressure and clung on by a neck.
🟥🟦 Big Evs battles home to win the Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes
Another gutsy performance and a poignant win for connections#ITVRacing | @Goodwood_Races | @MickApplebyUK pic.twitter.com/6KRbzu2wRW
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 2, 2023
Kylian, the other 9-4 favourite, appeared outpaced early on, but made late progress to place third and may well have finished closer with a clearer run.
Betfair cut Big Evs to 5-1 from 8-1 for the Gimcrack at York on August 25, although connections also raised the possibility of paying the £40,000 required to supplement him for the Nunthorpe on the same day.
He is an 8-1 shot with Paddy Paddy Power to become the first two-year-old to win the all-aged Group One since Kingsgate Native in 2007.
Appleby said: “He’s done that very well, I don’t think he really liked the ground, but he’s tough and he’s toughed it out.
“He’s as tough as anything and very quick, I think that ground just blunted his speed early on, but because he’s so tough he pulled it out in the end.”
On the subject of the Nunthorpe, Appleby said: “It’s up to the owner, he’s the one that’s got to pay the 40 grand! It’s a realistic target, a two-year-old has not won it since Kingsgate Native and that must be 20-odd years ago. It’s a possibility, we’ll speak in the morning when we’ve all calmed down a bit.
“He’s in the Gimcrack, so that’s a possibility. We were contemplating maybe looking at the Breeders’ Cup, which may be a possibility now as well.
“It just shows that we can do it at the top end with a two-year-old. We’re not renowned for having two-year-olds, but if you don’t get them sent to you then you can’t win with them. To finally get a good one is huge for us.
“He’d be the best (horse) we’ve had so far, I think he’s up there with the likes of Caspian Prince, Danzeno, Annaf, he’s very good – hopefully he’ll turn out better than them and give us a first Group One.”
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