Big Evs booked his ticket to Royal Ascot when making a most satisfactory return to the track in the British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes at York.
Mick Appleby’s stable star enjoyed an exceptional juvenile season and having won the Windsor Castle, Molecomb and Flying Childers on home soil, ended his two-year-old campaign with a victory at the highest level at the Breeders’ Cup.
His connections came back to Listed level for his three-year-old return on the Knavesmire and he corrected the record of his Nunthorpe disappointment at this track to continue his winning thread.
Sent off the 4-7 favourite in the hands of Tom Marquand, his jockey was in no rush, dropping the son of Blue Point in during the early stages.
However, he soon gave a glimpse of the speed that made him such a top-class performer last term, powering to the head of proceedings and keeping on for a cosy success over the game runner-up Sommelier.
The King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot has always been Big Evs’ main summer target and connections can now look forward to ordering their top hats as his big-race jockey brought up a treble on the day.
Appleby said: “He’s probably half-missed the break as he was a bit buzzy in the stalls and kind of fell out really, but Tom gave him a great ride and he won it well in the end.
“He’ll come on for that run, we didn’t have him fully primed up for this.
“We already said we’d probably miss the Temple Stakes at Haydock and go straight to Royal Ascot with him. We obviously tried the Nunthorpe with him here last year as a two-year-old and it didn’t work out, but I think we’d probably like to try again.
“Going from two to three you never really know until you get them out there, but he was still showing us the signs at home and he’s gone and done it on the track now, so he’s still got it there.
“It will be the King’s Stand (King Charles III Stakes) next I think.”
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Sprinting star Big Evs makes his comeback in the British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes at York on Thursday.
The Mick Appleby-trained Blue Point colt was a huge success story as a two-year-old, winning the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and the Molecomb at Goodwood before stepping out of the juvenile division to chance his arm on the Knavesmire in the Nunthorpe Stakes.
There he was defeated when considered to have been returned to the track too quickly after his last run, but in the Flying Childers he bounced straight back to form and his trade was then plied with great success overseas when he brought home the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Big Evs struck Breeders’ Cup gold (PA)
That outing at Santa Anita in November was his last sighting on a racecourse, with this Listed event now the first step in his three-year-old season, where he is either favourite or vying for favouritism in the King Charles III Stakes (formerly the King’s Stand) on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
“He’s been very well, he’s wintered well and he’s in good order,” said Appleby.
“All has been going well and we hope he’ll come out and win.
“It’s a nice place to start out, we’re just hopeful we don’t get too much more rain.
“All being well we’ll run him here and go to Royal Ascot, that’s the plan.”
Big Evs with trainer Mick Appleby and head girl Tara Belfield (Joe Giddens/PA)
Opposing him will be Marco Botti’s Sommelier, who makes his debut on turf having won twice on the all-weather at the end of last year.
The bay gelding was narrowly beaten over six furlongs at Newcastle on New Year’s Day and was last seen at the same track finishing down the field on All-Weather Championships Finals Day, which represented a rare blot on his consistent CV.
“We got it wrong at Newcastle and tried to hold him up and he ran too free,” said Alastair Donald, racing manager for owners King Power Racing.
“I think a fast five furlongs is really want he wants. We probably didn’t expect Big Evs to be in there, but this is the first time he is running on turf and I think he is probably going to be a good horse. Although he probably doesn’t want too much rain.”
Elsewhere in the race is Kylian, who makes his first start for Archie Watson having previously been trained by Karl Burke.
Kylian is having his first start for Archie Watson (Nigel French/PA)
For Burke the Invincible Spirit colt was a Listed winner when taking the Dragon Stakes at Sandown by an eyecatching six lengths, and was also third behind Big Evs when beaten only a length and a half in the Molecomb.
Kevin Ryan’s Mon Na Slieve runs for the first time since September last year, with Clive Cox set to run Unbreak My Heart, third at Group Three level last term when beaten two lengths in the Cornwallis Stakes.
Richard Fahey’s Dark Vintage makes his second start on British turf after relocating from America and Burke’s Sports Coach completes the field.
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Charlie Appleby’s Ancient Wisdom has the opportunity to put his Betfred Derby credentials to the test in Thursday’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes, as he tops a maximum field of 12 following Friday’s confirmations.
The Moulton Paddock’s handler already has ante-post Epsom favourite or joint-favourite Arabian Crown in his ranks, and could see his hand strengthened when last year’s Futurity Trophy winner makes his return in the feature of York’s three-day meeting.
Aidan O’Brien has three possible runners at this stage, with Diego Velazquez impressive when claiming the Group Two Golden Fleece Stakes at Leopardstown on his second start before only able to finish sixth behind Ancient Wisdom at Doncaster.
He is set to contest the French 2000 Guineas on Sunday, but Blue Riband Trial third Chief Little Rock could make another trip to Britain for this Group Two event on the Knavesmire, while O’Brien has also supplemented Craven fourth Cambridge.
Roger Varian has already tasted Classic success this season and has elected to go up in trip with Al Musmak who showed some smart form in useful company as a two-year-old, while both Karl Burke’s Caviar Heights and Paul and Oliver Cole’s Black Run were seen in the winner’s enclosure at Newmarket’s Guineas Festival.
The former was an impressive winner of the Listed Newmarket Stakes and now takes the next step on his path towards a potential tilt at Epsom.
Economics impressed when breaking his maiden at Newbury and could step up to 10 furlongs representing William Haggas, while John and Thady Gosden’s God’s Window was well held in Chester’s Dee Stakes but is given a chance for a quick return to action.
Economics was a taking winner (PA)
Ed Walker’s Harper’s Ferry was due to contest that Listed event on the Roodee before refusing to go into the stalls and is another given a second bite of the cherry, while both Under The Sun (Hugo Palmer) and War Rooms (Owen Burrows) will be hoping to improve on their efforts in Sandown’s Classic Trial if facing the starter in Yorkshire.
In the Middleton Fillies’ Stakes, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Free Wind is in line to defend her crown against the likes of Ralph Beckett’s Champions Day runner-up Bluestocking.
Meanwhile, York chief executive and clerk of the course William Derby is looking forward to the Knavesmire’s opening action of the season, with rain showers in the early part of next week set to ensure perfect conditions for the course’s key Classic trials.
He said: “We’re the quick side of good at the moment after a nice sunny week that is due to continue through the weekend.
“But the weather system changes the early part of next week and we are expecting rain Monday and Tuesday. For racing it is a mixture of sunshine and showers and it will be slightly cooler than of late as we move from a high-pressure system to a low-pressure system.
York is poised for its first meeting of the summer (Mike Egerton/PA)
“It’s natural ground and as everyone knows we have had a wet winter and spring. It’s just dried up and warmed up nicely over the last 10 days. We’re happy with where it is at the moment and will just keep an eye on the rain that will on Monday and Tuesday which will put the ground spot on for racing.”
On the Dante field and the racing itself, Derby added: “It looks fantastic racing and we’re really excited to get started again.
“We’ve got a record-level of prize-money (on offer) and last year Soul Sister won the Musidora before winning the Oaks with Frankie (Dettori) and I think 11 colts have won the Dante/Derby double, so I can’t wait to see what will happen next Thursday in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.
“We’re releasing the first phase of our redevelopment of the southern end of the racecourse. That is looking good and coming on well ahead of the full opening ahead of the Ebor and it’s a really exciting time of the year.”
Big Evs with trainer Mick Appleby, jockey Frederick Larson and head girl Tara Belfield (Joe Giddens/PA)
The card is also due to feature the return to action of Breeders’ Cup winner Big Evs in the British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes.
Trainer Mick Appleby said: “Big Evs is in very good order. He has wintered really well – he’s raring to go. Hopefully, he should run very well…hopefully, he’ll win!
“Tom (Marquand) is definitely riding. The main thing now is that the rain stays away. He’ll do his last piece of work tomorrow.
“There were very few races early on for three-years-old over five furlongs. He’s in the Temple Stakes (Haydock, May 25). Then he’ll more than likely go to Royal Ascot in the King’s Stand, which is now the King Charles III Stakes (June 18).
“He’s grown a little bit through the winter, but not a lot. He’s not the biggest of horses. He’s pretty straightforward to train. The thing with him, like I’ve always said, is he’s very quick.”
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Annaf will miss out on the chance to supplement his recent Saudi Arabian success on Dubai World Cup Night having met with a setback in transit.
Mick Appleby’s five-year-old enjoyed a fine 2023 season and having signed off with big wins at both Doncaster and Ascot, he has picked up from where he left off this term, going close in the Kachy Stakes before striking gold in the $2million Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh last month.
The son of Muhaarar was in line to seek an international double in Meydan’s Al Quoz Sprint on Saturday, but having picked up a respiratory illness on the flight over to Dubai, will now return to Appleby’s Oakham base to be prepared for a domestic campaign centred around a trip to Royal Ascot.
Appleby said: “He got taken ill on the flight over, but it is not life threatening or anything and he’s hopefully going to be fine, it’s just prevented him from running.
“It’s a shame but it’s a risk you take when they are flying a fair bit. He came home after Saudi and was heading back out so maybe it was just a bit too much for him.
“He should be fine and the vets out in Dubai in the hospital are happy with him – he should be fine to come back home when the other one (Roberto Escobarr) does.
“We’ll probably get him ready for Ascot now, that will probably be the main aim.”
Big Evs struck Breeders’ Cup gold (PA)
The Royal meeting could also feature on the agenda for Appleby’s leading light Big Evs who is being readied for his three-year-old season.
The son of Blue Point excelled as a juvenile, winning top-quality two-year-old races at home before giving his team a day to remember when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
His handler is keen to keep his high-class speedster to five furlongs for the early part of the season, which would see ideas of the Commonwealth Cup put on the backburner for now. However, he does concede six-furlong contests will enter the equation at some stage.
Big Evs with trainer Mick Appleby (Joe Giddens/PA)
Appleby continued: “He’s great and has wintered really well. He’s not far off being ready to run, we just need to decide where we are going to run.
“The obvious race (to target) would have been the Commonwealth Cup, but that is six furlongs and we don’t really want to try him over six first time back, so we’re not really sure where we will start back. The weather is not helping and it’s raining again here now.
“I think in the early season we will definitely be sticking to five furlongs. We’re obviously going to have to try him at six at some point and the way he won at Goodwood on that heavy ground, you would say he would stay the six.”
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Mick Appleby has delivered a positive winter bulletin on star sprinter Big Evs, as connections prepare to map out the three-year-old campaign for the Breeders’ Cup hero.
The speedy son of Blue Point was one of the standout sprinting juveniles of the 2023 season, winning four of his six starts and ending the year with success at Santa Anita in November.
That big-race verdict had connections dreaming of what the colt could achieve this year and having strengthened up during his time off, he is now reported to be in rude health as he begins building up to peak fitness ahead of the new term.
Big Evs struck Breeders’ Cup gold (PA)
Appleby has his eye on a May return, but suitable ground appears to be crucial with the Oakham handler hesitant to start his stable standard bearer off in testing conditions.
“He’s doing well and back in training now. He’s wintered well and grown and filled out more – he looks a bit stronger now,” said Appleby.
“I’m going to have a sit down with his owner soon and map out a campaign for him. We would probably look at getting out May time I think, it’s just working out what there is for him early season really.
Big Evs with trainer Mick Appleby and head girl Tara Belfield at his Rutland yard (Joe Giddens/PA)
“It will all depend on what the ground will be like really more than anything – we don’t want it too soft, even though he handled it at Glorious Goodwood when he won on bottomless ground.
“We will play it by ear with him and he’s getting fitter, so we’ll crack on with him and see when he’s ready.”
Appleby is also preparing high-class operators Roberto Escobarr and Annaf for international duty in Saudi Arabia next month, where both will seek valuable prizes at the Saudi Cup meeting.
A three-time winner when trained by William Haggas, Roberto Escobarr claimed the Italian St Leger on stable debut for his new handler in November and after a tune-up run at Newcastle on New Year’s Day is now hoping for a bit of luck to ensure he makes the line-up for the $2.5million Red Sea Turf Handicap.
“Roberto Escobarr ran well at Newcastle and he’s possibly going out to Saudi for the Red Sea Handicap,” added Appleby.
“He needs three to come out at the moment, so hopefully he gets in and we’ve got Annaf going out there as well for the turf sprint. He’s in the dirt race as well but he’ll run on the turf.
“There’s a bit to look forward to with two nice horses and it’ll break the winter up a bit.”
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Frederick Larson knew from the very beginning that Big Evs was an exceptional talent and the horse he has helped guide from raw novice to Breeders’ Cup champion provided the apprentice jockey with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when accompanying the star speedster to Santa Anita.
The son of Blue Point’s Breeders’ Cup heroics may have provided Mick Appleby with the finest moment of his training career but it was also the culmination of a long season’s work for the handler’s stable apprentice, who has taken on the responsibility of nurturing Big Evs and guiding him to the top of the sprinting tree.
It is a role that saw the 24-year-old on the plane to California to help put the finishing touches to the colt’s Breeders’ Cup preparations.
But the young jockey has been a permanent feature of the Big Evs story from the very first day the precocious youngster stepped foot into Appleby’s Rutland base.
“It’s always a pleasure to ride nice horses – and ones like him, they don’t come around often,” said Larson.
Jockey Frederick Larson is Big Evs’ work rider (Joe Giddens/PA)
“We knew he was pretty special from early on and I’ve ridden him every day since we’ve had him. It’s just been nice to see the progression and he’s turned so professional, you can see the growth in him and in his mind as well.”
The majority of Larson’s 77 winners on the Flat have been aboard Appleby’s ever-expanding string, but the biggest success of his fledgling career came at York in the summer, when he expertly partnered Amy Murphy’s Pride Of America to the narrowest of John Smith’s Cup triumphs.
And it was when riding for the Newmarket-based handler in the spring that Larson first let the cat out of the bag that he might have unearthed something special back in Rutland.
Larson added: “I said to Amy Murphy one day in March when I was riding work on her two-year-olds that ‘I think I’ve just ridden the best horse I’ve ever ridden’.
“He was raw and he went and got beat first time out and we weren’t even disappointed. In fact, we were actually delighted because we knew that he would progress.
“We always knew he was special but to do what he’s done, and the way he did it at Royal Ascot and then to have to dig it out on heavy ground at Goodwood, that is the true sign of a true champion. To do it on any track and any ground, they have all come and tried and they have all been beaten.”
For some, the role of work rider to one of the most exciting juvenile prospects in Britain may prove too much, but Larson has relished the journey and, having been faultless in the build-up to his American assignment, he was simply keen for Big Evs to showcase his talent to the world on the biggest stage of all.
He added: “I never feel too much pressure when I’m riding in races myself, but it has been a weird feeling all year, just because I know how good he is and I wanted him to show how good I knew he was.
“I said to Mick when he came over, he’s not missed a beat since he’s arrived and for a two-year-old to handle everything the way he did is a credit to himself.
“I thought we were going there with a great chance and it sounds stupid now, but I would have been disappointed if he didn’t win because I knew how good he was.
“I know he got beaten in the Nunthorpe, but it is a different kettle of fish when he’s back taking on two-year-olds – and I’ve ridden a fair few two-year-olds in my time and knew he was special. I was just glad he turned up on the day.
“I have enjoyed getting him ready this year and he’s made life easy for me really, he’s just great.”
Big Evs with head girl Tara Belfield (Joe Giddens/PA)
Larson was joined Stateside by Tara Belfield, Appleby’s head girl, who previously had only ventured as far as Ireland with a member of the Appleby string.
Having worked up from stable hand to her current position, she was entrusted with shuttling Big Evs across the Atlantic, something which proved a much simpler task than imagined, as the classy colt enjoyed one-on-one attention in the California sun.
She said: “I really enjoyed myself, it’s the first time I’ve taken one abroad – I’ve taken one to Ireland, but this was a bit different, it was 11 hours each way on a plane for a start.
“All in all, the horse travelled for about 24 hours and he was fine and he handled everything really well. He handled it like a pro.
“One-horse trips are very easy actually, we love a one-horse trip. There was two of us there and we got a holiday and Big Evs got all the love – well I would say he was loving it, but he’s a grumpy little sausage.”
Belfield sacrificed going on holiday to accompany Big Evs to the American West Coast, for a trip that was just a far-flung dream when first joining the team at The Homestead eight years ago.
“I was supposed to be on holiday with my other half but California took over,” she continued.
“When I started, we didn’t have half the horses and ones that were giving us these opportunities, so to have a horse like him on the yard and to go to places like the Breeders’ Cup is ridiculous.”
Big Evs with trainer Mick Appleby and head girl Tara Belfield (Joe Giddens/PA)
The enormity of the occasion eventually took its toll on Appleby’s weary travelling team and, after their champion was awarded his famous flower garland and received the adulations of the Santa Anita crowd, the need for some well-earned rest meant celebrations had to be delayed by 24 hours.
“The adrenaline ran out and it all just hit us,” Belfield added. “There is such a build-up and it just takes it out of you.
“Everything was going so well out there, everything that could have gone wrong didn’t and everything that we needed to go right did – it was just what we wanted. So we were expecting good things and I’m glad he won because we would have been disappointed if he didn’t.
“I think we were in bed for half seven that night, even the owners went for a meal and didn’t go out partying. We partied hard though the next day, so it was fine.”
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A week on from Big Evs conquering America, Mick Appleby is still coming to terms with the Breeders’ Cup achievement of his speedster.
The son of Blue Point was already inked in the history books at the trainer’s Rutland base having provided Appleby with a first Royal Ascot winner in the summer, but he went one step further in Santa Anita, blitzing America’s best with a devastating display to give the handler a maiden success at the highest level.
The jetlag may now be subsiding, but the memories and magnitude of what his stable star accomplished are still hitting home for the Barnsley-born trainer, who has worked his way up from humble beginnings.
Big Evs struck Breeders’ Cup gold (PA)
“It was absolutely amazing, I still don’t think it has sunk in yet,” said Appleby.
“All trainers would like Grade or Group One winners and going out to the Breeders’ Cup and getting our first one was something amazing, it was really special.
“I have to pinch myself and its hard to believe it has happened. It’s just been amazing and I’m still on cloud nine – it’s been like a dream.”
There were of course victories in California for the powerhouse operations of Godolphin, Juddmonte and Coolmore.
The trainer of Big Evs, Mick Appleby (Joe Giddens/PA)
However, this was also the Breeders’ Cup where the lesser lights got their moment and the victory of Big Evs is testament to the hard work and ambition of a trainer who has served his time as all-weather champion and is eager to showcase his talent on the big stage.
His commitment to the cause has seen him treading a familiar beat around the all-weather circuit since returning from US, but he is proud to disprove the theory he is a one-trick trainer.
Appleby said: “We’ve always been pigeonholed as an all-weather trainer, but hopefully that disappears now and the world realises we are as good on grass, especially with two-year-olds, as we’ve never been renowned for having juveniles. But if you don’t have the ammunition, you can’t win with them.
“It’s hard work, it’s really hard work just keeping the horses sound, fit and injury free.
“I think its a great achievement and we’ve got a great team here – without the team it wouldn’t be possible. It’s great for everyone concerned. It means a lot to the whole yard.”
That hard work has seen the likes of Danzeno, Caspian Prince and Raasel pass through Appleby’s hands at his Langham training base, but he is in little doubt that his Breeders’ Cup champion is top of the class.
“He’s very quick and you have to very fast to go with him. He’s just speed,” said the Yorkshireman.
“He reminds me a lot of a horse we had called Caspian Prince, he would be the quickest horse I’ve ever had and won the Dash (at Epsom) a few times. He was lightning quick. I think Big Evs would definitely be up there with him.
“He was our first Group One winner so I would say he is (the best we have had). I’ve never seen a horse as quick as him, he’s absolute lightning.
“When we first started working Big Evs with the likes of Raasel and Annaf, we knew he was something special and really quick because none of the other two-year-olds could get anywhere near him.”
Big Evs with trainer Mick Appleby and head girl Tara Belfield (Joe Giddens/PA)
Like all underdog tales, this was a story that started with disappointment and in Big Evs’ case, defeat at Redcar on debut.
“We were gobsmacked he got beat, but it was the draw that beat him at Redcar and if you were on the stands side you had no chance whatsoever,” explained Appleby.
“He had to go right the way across the track to get to the leaders and if he had a better draw he would have won. We weren’t disappointed and he showed enough to convince us he was decent.”
He would go on to prove Appleby’s assessment of “decent” to be a slight underestimation when winning the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot on his second start, with a battling victory in the Goodwood mud soon to follow.
A chastising defeat when supplemented for the Nunthorpe is the sole blot on the Big Evs’ copybook, but he was soon back on form when demolishing the Flying Childers field at Doncaster.
“Obviously we had the blip in the Nunthorpe and we just had to put a line through that and then he bounced back so impressively at Doncaster,” continued Appleby.
“To be fair, I was umming and ahhing whether we should have gone to York, but the owner was very keen and it was his home track and a race he has always wanted to win.
“It was worth going for it and I think, in hindsight, Goodwood took a lot out of him on the heavy ground and was the contributing factor to him running poorly there. If he had another two weeks after Goodwood before the Nunthorpe, I think it might have been a different story all together.
Big Evs on his way to scoring at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)
“It was a relief he went to Doncaster and bounced back and I think that was his most impressive win. The time he did was staggering and after that we were definitely going to the Breeders’ Cup.”
There was little doubt in the Big Evs camp that their speedball would rise to the occasion, and when the bell rang and gates opened on the opening night of Breeders’ Cup action, he showed all of his champion qualities to cruise to victory in the hands of Tom Marquand.
Appleby said: “The good thing with him, he has good gate speed. He’s lighting out and straight into stride and gone.
“He was very good and especially first time around a bend. That was always going to be our concern whether he would be able to cope with a bend going as quick as he does.
“Tom gave him a brilliant ride and let him just find his feet round the bend and find the right leg. Once he got into the straight, he quickened away again. Tom said as soon as that one was closing on him, he had lots in the tank and went again. It was a great ride.”
Although there was Santa Anita glory for Appleby, there was disappointment for fellow Brit Adam West and both Big Evs and the Epsom handler’s Live In The Dream will return in 2024 attempting to lay claim to the title of the world’s fastest racehorse.
“There probably is someone faster somewhere and obviously some of the American horses are very quick, but I don’t know if there is any faster in this country,” continued the Langham handler.
“Live In The Dream is probably one that is quick. I would imagine we will be clashing at some point and that will be interesting.”
Trainer Mick Appleby at his yard near Oakham (Joe Giddens/PA).
Next season will be top-level action all the way for Big Evs as Appleby searches for more famous victories on the big stage with his horse of a lifetime.
He added: “The good thing is Paul (Teasdale, owner) is not going to sell him. You get a lot of owners who when the offers come in would be snapping it up, but Paul has no intention of selling which is good for us.
“He’s already won his Group One and hopefully we will be aiming at all the Group races over five furlongs next year.
“We’ve just got to stay up there with him. We’re going to look forward to him next year, but obviously it will be a bit nervy as well about if he will train on, because you do always have that nagging thought in your mind. But I see no reason why he wouldn’t.”
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So Auguste Rodin, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore did it, writes Tony Stafford. At the forefront of the Irish stable and its Coolmore ownership team’s £2.7 million return from their trip to Santa Anita, the dual Derby winner emerged as a true champion, not least because of the courage of his trainer.
When the son of Deep Impact trailed home a distant last in the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot following his odds-on success at the Curragh, the knives were out.
The Derby form is rubbish they said – “when isn’t it?”, you might ask – and even his win dropped to ten furlongs for the Irish Champion Stakes still had its detractors.
But now, fully justifying (more of that word later) the decision to skip Ascot’s Champion Stakes day and the almost certain heavy ground – I sincerely believe the authorities need to do something about that – he came onto fast turf at Santa Anita and showed the sort of instant acceleration that has impressed the Ballydoyle cognoscenti from day one.
As ever with Aidan, the back-up riders are just as vital. Didn’t Padraig Beggy in 2017 and, three years later, Emmet McNamara emerge from the Chorus Line on the home gallops to win the Derby? They partnered back-up horses, Wings Of Eagles (Beggy) and Serpentine for McNamara, only to disappear from view pretty much thereafter, left with just their memories of that incredible career-garnishing achievement.
There was a bit of a Beggy/McNamara element to this year’s Breeders’ Cup, but it wasn’t that Aidan picked from the 70 or so riders that normally partner first and second lots of the incredibly talented team back home.
This time he “borrowed” a young jockey that has quickly got to near the top of the Irish riding tree, from son Joseph. Dylan Browne McMonagle – still only 20 – has ridden 59 winners in Ireland this year from 539 rides, putting him third only behind champion Colin Keane and Billy Lee.
In a year made difficult for Aidan by the long-term injury early in the year sustained by Wayne Lordan, you might have thought the master of Ballydoyle would have cast his net a little wider. From his 105 domestic wins, Ryan Moore has travelled over for 52 from 123 at 42% and ultra-reliable Seamie Heffernan has 32 from 150 at a more than handy 21%. With Wayne eight from 54 in the spring, there’s just 13 to go round. Surely Dylan would have picked up the pieces. He did, one win from nine rides.
His employment by O’Brien in the UK has been even more sparing, just a single ride on Champions Day at Ascot on Broome, and there he was again on Saturday on the same quirky old veteran apparently making up the numbers in the deep Turf field.
At Ascot, over what has become more his distance in the near two-mile Stayers Championship race, he faded to finish sixth of eight. His perceived role at Santa Anita was to help make the running and ensure a decent pace for the favourite. In the end, Dylan’s knowledge of the horse gained from Ascot did not help at the start as the seven-year-old dwelt as the rest of the field hurried on their way.
Maybe it was good fortune, but McMonagle didn’t rest on his laurels, trying to get to the front and Broome was prominent until understandably beginning to weaken as the last turn approached. Inevitably he fell into the laps of still travelling rivals and certainly Frankie Dettori on King Of Steel and Jim Crowley on Mostahdaf took a rapid diversion to the outside to avoid him.
The trigger effect was a nice gap on the inside. If ever you needed to know how much distance a horse can lose in the US when going wide on the bend this was evident as without doing too much, Ryan, having been some way back in seventh or eighth, was able to enter the straight just behind the lead.
The rail runner route was never more famously displayed than by Calvin Borel in his successive Kentucky Derby wins in 2009/2010, and when it works it looks very clever. Ryan confessed there was an element of good fortune in it but, again, to have a horse talented enough to accept the invitation is rare.
Clearly, Aidan O’Brien doesn’t need to employ a rider regularly to appreciate his talent and here we come to the day before when I’m sure McMonagle must have feared the worst when the local veterinary panel deemed River Tiber unfit to run in Friday’s Juvenile Turf race.
O’Brien took it on the chin in a little more restrained manner than Jessica Harrington, there with an owner who had nothing else to show for their trip. Aidan, of course, had back-up once more but, with Ryan Moore’s first pick an absentee, Frankie Dettori was booked for second string Unquestionable with McMonagle on longshot Mountain Bear.
Although only a winner of a maiden race previously, Unquestionable made plenty of friends with his second, a length behind Richard Hannon-trained Rosellion in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at the Arc meeting. Ryan promptly pulled rank leaving Dettori without a mount, unless…
Well, “unless” didn’t happen, and while Ryan came the inside route to get by the Americans in the straight while Dylan went widest of all, collecting with a flying finish the not inconsiderable runner-up prize of £141k as the trainer supplied the one-two.
If the Coolmore partners didn’t have enough pockets to cram the £2.7 million (less deductions!) into by 24 hours later, I’m sure Joseph’s protégé would have been planning what he might be doing with what must have been an unexpected windfall.
European horses once again made the Americans look ordinary in most of the turf races, with Mick Appleby’s Big Evs more than living up to his sprinting prowess back home by giving the home speedsters a lesson in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. If Godolphin had a quietish time of it, the identity of Big Evs’ sire, their first-season sensation Blue Point, would have kept them smiling wherever Sheikh Mo and co were last weekend.
While the two best male and female stars from the Ballydoyle academy were back home munching away unaware of their joint objectives in next year’s 2000 and 1000 Guineas, their paternal relatives, Just FYI in the Juvenile Fillies’ and Hard To Justify in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf which followed, were adding both lustre and the degree of versatility to their sire.
City Of Troy’s and Opera Singer’s return to action will be awaited with interest. I can tell you, if you are being impatient, the first weekend in May will come around quicker this time than any year previously. Then we can see if my exaggerated comments about City Of Troy are indeed Justified.
- TS
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/AugusteRodin_BreedersCupTurf2023.png319830Tony Staffordhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngTony Stafford2023-11-06 03:09:212023-11-05 22:20:17Monday Musings: They Did It!
Big Evs did connections proud as he swept to success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
Mick Appleby’s colt broke well and ran prominently throughout, trailing Crimson Advocate around the bend having started as the favourite under Tom Marquand.
From there the duo pulled away to seal victory for the British in the first Grade One event of the meeting.
Beaten on his debut at Redcar in May, the son of Blue Point got off the mark in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot before adding the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood and the Flying Childers at Doncaster, with his only disappointing effort coming against older horses in the Nunthorpe.
While he was unable to take up his usual front-running position, Big Evs poured it on in the straight, with the Adrian Murray-trained Valiant Force trying to chase him down in the last of the five furlongs.
However, the Irish raider could not quite catch Big Evs, with the Frankie Dettori-ridden Starlust staying on late to take third place and complete a clean sweep of the places for the European challengers.
Big Evs after his Santa Anita victory (PA)
Marquand said: “It wasn’t quite the style he showed us at home, but he chugged along and he was learning with every stride round the bend.
“I knew Crimson Advocate was inside me and I thought she broke my heart at Ascot (when she beat Marquand’s mount Relief Rally by a nose in the Queen Mary) and she might do it again.
“It wasn’t the smoothest, but I always felt there were some gears left.”
Like Marquand, Appleby, who is based in Rutland, was securing his first Breeders’ Cup success and it was also a first victory at the highest level for the trainer.
He admitted he had his sights set on Breeders’ Cup glory following Big Evs’ Goodwood win at the beginning of August.
He said: “Everything went perfectly to plan and I still can’t believe it.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. When he came off the bend, he kicked again. It’s such a massive achievement for our small yard and the whole team.
“This was the aim since he won at Goodwood but I think he’ll have a break now.”
Owner Paul Teasdale was full of emotion following the victory of Big Evs, who is named after his late friend.
He explained: “My great friend Paul Evans died of lung cancer a year ago and his nickname was Big Evs.
“When I bought this horse in March, I was looking for something that could do well in memory of Paul and the rest is history.
“I wasn’t sure where our horse was early but when he came round the bend, I could see he still had plenty left.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/882ba3c6-1b7d-4a5e-ad70-dc978d0f26e7.jpg5121024Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-11-03 21:11:292023-11-03 21:55:06Big Evs powers home for Juvenile Turf Sprint title
Big Evs will carry British hopes on his broad shoulders when he attempts to blast his way to a famous victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
Mick Appleby’s youngster has been one of the season’s star juveniles and will attempt to bring his stellar season to a fitting end in the shadows of the San Gabriel Mountains on Friday.
The Royal Ascot scorer will be his trainer’s first runner at the showpiece event and after his one disappointment this season in the Nunthorpe, the son of Blue Point was back to his brilliant best when blazing a trail in the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.
The Rutland-based handler is thrilled to be in California with his star performer, who he believes has proven he is more than capable of handling top talent.
“I’ve never really had the right ammo in the two-year-old division, but I think with this horse I’ve proved I can do it,” said Appleby.
“After Goodwood we thought about coming here and as to his blip in the Nunthorpe it came just two weeks after a hard race in soft ground and we put a line through it. In hindsight we shouldn’t have run at York, it was way too soon.
“Doncaster was a most impressive win and if he reproduces it he will take a lot of beating.”
Tom Marquand was in the saddle when registering a breathtaking all-the-way success on Town Moor in September and will once again be aboard the speedy youngster whose blistering starts have been a hallmark of his campaign.
“He absolutely flew out of the gate this morning and should be as good at it as any of the Americans,” said Appleby.
“My main concern is going round a bend, but Tom breezed him yesterday and said he coped with it really well. The ground will ride on the quick side which is fine for us.”
American trainer George Weaver saddles a three-strong hand in opposition, with Royal Ascot heroine Crimson Advocate the headline attraction alongside stablemates No Nay Mets and Amidst Waves.
The Queen Mary winner will be a first runner at the Breeders’ Cup for Qatar-based Wathnan Racing and she will appear for the first time in their increasingly-familiar silks when stepping out in the hands of John Velazquez.
“We’re excited and it will be an exciting day,” said Case Clay, Wathnan’s racing adviser in the USA.
“This is the Breeders’ Cup so it will be very tough competition. We’re just hoping for a nice clean break and the nice thing about the turf sprint is it is just get out and go – once the gates open it is going to be just that.
“We’re really happy to have John Velazquez on board, especially with his great experience at Ascot, and that is reassuring. We are just very excited.
“Olly Tait (senior Wathnan representative) has given me instruction to look for quality and she is the first purchase and hopefully there will be some more.”
Watch the full replay as COMMITTEE OF ONE narrowly defeats the competition in the Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select! pic.twitter.com/VSu9gcIt6r
Others from the home team to watch for include John Saddler’s Slider who claimed the Speakeasy Stakes over track and trip last month and Steven Asmussen’s Committee Of One, who accounted for Weaver’s Amidst Waves in the Indian Summer Stakes.
Asmussen said: “It was a breakthrough race last time. Obviously, at five-eighths on the turf (in stall 12), you need to get lucky with the trip. He’s a horse that likes to come from a little off of it, so hopefully a good trip will open up.”
There is a strong Irish challenge which features shock Royal Ascot winner Valiant Force, a first runner for Adrian Murray at the end-of-season spectacular, while the hat-trick-seeking Tiger Belle is just a second runner at the meeting for Adrian McGuinness.
Jessica Harrington’s Middle Park fourth Givemethebeatboys and Aidan O’Brien’s Cherry Blossom are the others making the trip from Ireland, while Frankie Dettori will get the leg-up aboard Ralph Beckett’s Starlust.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/273732799-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-11-02 17:11:222023-11-02 17:11:22Big Evs and Mick Appleby ready for big day in California
Mick Appleby’s Big Evs is revving up for his trip to Santa Anita to take on the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
The Blue Point colt has been a star of the juvenile sprint division this season, landing both the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and the Molecomb at Goodwood.
He took a steep step up to Group One level against older horses in the Nunthorpe at York and that did not pay off when he finished 14th, but against horses of his own age he bounced straight back to win the Flying Childers at Doncaster in good style.
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint was mentioned in the aftermath of the Nunthorpe disappointment and those plans were only further solidified when Big Evs returned to form on Town Moor.
The meeting is this year held at Santa Anita and after a brief break Big Evs is preparing to set sail for America, where he will spend a few days in quarantine before getting accustomed to the track ahead of the meeting.
Big Evs and Jason Hart (centre) coming home to win the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)
“He’s in good form, we’ve just freshened him up a bit and he seems in good order,” said Appleby.
“Hopefully he stays that way until he goes, he flies out on October 26.
“He’s got to have 48 hours in quarantine then he’ll be able to go out on track two or three times before the race.”
Big Evs will go for a racecourse gallop on British soil to get to grips with racing around a bend, something he has yet to encounter, but stalls work with the American-style starting bell will take place once he lands in the States.
“We’re going to take him for a racecourse gallop so we can run him around a bend, obviously he’s never raced around a bend before but I don’t think it’ll be an issue,” Appleby said.
“He’s got to do a bit of stalls work with a bell but I think we’re going to do that when he’s out there so he can get used to the stalls there.
“He’s doing very well and hopefully it’s all systems go.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/273732799-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-10-03 15:36:492023-10-04 11:20:06Big Evs gearing up for Breeders’ Cup mission
Big Evs bounced back to his very best with a devastating display in the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.
Mick Appleby’s speedster has struck big-race gold at both Royal Ascot and the Goodwood Festival when claiming the Molecomb Stakes, but having been tasked with taking on his elders in the Nunthorpe last time, was unable to get involved and was ultimately one of the disappointments in York’s premier sprint.
Back to racing against his own age group, the son of Blue Point put his rivals to the sword from the very start to add this Group Two prize to his growing CV and having been fast away from the stalls in the hands of Tom Marquand, the 9-4 favourite scorched his way up Town Moor as his rivals chased the pacey youngster’s tail in vain.
The two-and-three-quarter-length winner now appears to have booked his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup in November.
Appleby said: “After he jumped out of the stalls there wasn’t really a doubt. Once he got three or four lengths on them they weren’t going to catch him. You’ve got to be up the front on this ground.
“It’s not the ideal ground for him but he’s got the job done well. He’s won a Molecomb and the Flying Childers on soft ground now.
“We just had to put a line through the Nunthorpe. I think he just had an exceptionally hard race at Goodwood, I think that just took its toll.
“I think it will be the Breeders’ Cup next for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, straight there. It’s five furlongs at Santa Anita which should be ideal. If he can get the rail he could be difficult to peg back.
“He’s been an amazing horse, the owners have turned down some big bids and there’ll be more now, but luckily he’s not for sale.
“Coming into this, I was thinking that one race didn’t make him a bad horse. If he’d disappointed again then we’d have been scratching our heads but he’s got the job done well today.
“Tom rode him today as Jason (Hart) was at Chester for his boss (John Quinn). If Highfield Princess goes to the Breeders’ Cup that means Jason will be, so he’ll be there and all being well he’ll be riding him again. Tom was a great replacement today.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/257377c8-4b08-44f7-b403-074b227c114a.jpg10242048Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-09-15 13:57:542023-09-15 13:57:54Evs posts Big performance at Doncaster
Kevin Philippart De Foy is uncertain how Inquisitively will handle slower ground as he switches up to Group Two company in the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.
The colt was last seen easing to a two-length victory in the Listed Roses Stakes at York, making light work of his rivals on good to firm ground under William Buick.
That performance was his first for new connections having previously been trained to a third-placed finish in the Windsor Castle by Ollie Sangster.
Each of his three runs have been on quick ground, however, and Philippart De Foy is therefore hoping that the turf on Town Moor does not become any softer ahead of this Group Two event.
“The horse won well at York and I think the course will suit him. It’s a very flat, straight course and very straightforward,” he said.
A maiden no more! 🏇
Inquisitively had been beaten on both previous starts but the son of Ten Sovereigns stormed up the stands' rail to open his account in the £100,000 Julia Graves Roses Stakes on his first start for @kpfracing. pic.twitter.com/VTMpi3x0KA
The colt has been an endearing success story so far this term, landing both the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood in vastly differing ground conditions.
He then took on older horses in the Nunthorpe at York and while he was well beaten, Appleby feels his Goodwood exertions on soft ground had taken more of a toll than originally thought.
After a wet start to the week, Appleby is now hoping it will stay dry to produce suitable conditions for his star juvenile.
“He seems in good order at the moment, the only concern really is the ground,” he said.
Big Evs (noseband) winning the Molecomb Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)
“If it went really soft we wouldn’t run, but we’re hoping it dries up to good ground.
“We’d run on good to soft, obviously he won on soft ground at Goodwood but it wasn’t ideal.
“Other than that he is in very good order and he should run a big race, he’s going there with a very good chance.”
Karl Burke’s Kylian reverts to five furlongs after a beaten effort over six at York last time out.
He contested the Gimcrack Stakes and finished sixth of 10 after going off as the favourite, though Burke has concluded the York track may not be to his liking after he was beaten there on debut too.
Kylian taking the Dragon Stakes for Karl Burke (Nigel French/PA)
He has fared well in all of his other starts, winning the Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown and finishing third to Big Evs in the Molecomb – where he encountered soft ground after a summer deluge.
Burke said: “I’m just not sure he likes York, he’s been there twice and disappointed twice. We took him there on his debut and thought he was a certainty and he got beaten.
“Maybe the confirmation of the ground just doesn’t suit him there, it’s a sandy base, and I’m not sure six furlongs is his bag either at this stage of his career, so the drop back to five will suit.
“I know he got beaten on very soft ground at Goodwood, but I think it was the draw as much as the ground that beat him there, so I’m not that worried about the ground.
“He’s in great form and hopefully he can put up a good performance.”
🏇Inquisitively 🇬🇧🥇(Ten Sovereigns 🇨🇮 – Ballyalla 🇬🇧, by Mind Games 🇬🇧)
Elsewhere is Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda, winner of the Alice Keppel at Goodwood, with Richard Fahey represented by Norfolk Stakes runner-up Malc.
George Boughey runs Deauville Listed winner Graceful Thunder, while Heather Main’s Zoulu Chief comes into the race in winning form having taken his last two races.
Michael O’Callaghan’s Francis Meynell travels over from Ireland for the race, as does Adrian Murray’s Norfolk winner Valiant Force.
Brian Meehan’s Toca Madera, Richard Spencer’s Fool’s Gold and Roger Teal’s Rosario complete the field of 12.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/507d552c-4256-424e-a018-4b41122a2076-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-09-14 14:28:582023-09-14 14:28:58Inquisitively can answer Childers question for Philippart De Foy
Mick Appleby’s star juvenile Big Evs will put Nunthorpe disappointment behind him and press on with his sprint campaign.
The Blue Point colt scored at two of the biggest summer meetings when landing the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and then the Molecomb at Goodwood.
Both contests are restricted to two-year-olds, but his success inspired connections to step markedly up in grade and take on older horses in the Group One Nunthorpe at York’s Ebor meeting.
The bay was a 5-1 chance under Andrea Atzeni when banking a weight allowance for his age, but the race never looked his for the taking as he faded to finish 14th of 16 runners.
Big Evs trotted up sound after the run and was found to be bearing no ill effects, leaving Appleby to conclude that he had simply had a harder race than first thought at Goodwood.
Big Evs in action at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)
With the horse in good health, there are no plans to cut his season short and he could head next for the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster before an American foray is planned to take aim at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
“He’s absolutely fine, he came back fine and we had bloods taken and couldn’t find anything amiss,” Appleby said.
“He trotted up sound, I think it’s just that he had a lot harder race at Goodwood than we thought.
“It was a big ask for a two-year-old against older horses at this time of year, but I think it was more that – he’d just had a hard enough race at Goodwood and it came a couple of weeks too soon for him.
“He’s come out of it well, anyway, so we’ll just dust ourselves down and go again.
“He’ll possibly go to the Flying Childers and then the main aim is the Breeders’ Cup.
“It’s an easy five furlongs, it’s on the turf at Santa Anita and that should suit him so provided it doesn’t hammer down with rain, we’ll head there.”
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Big Evs has been supplemented for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday – where Andrea Atzeni will ride.
Mick Appleby’s speedy two-year-old won the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot by three lengths and then followed up at Goodwood in the Molecomb.
He was ridden in both those victories by Jason Hart but he understandably maintains his partnership with John Quinn’s Highfield Princess.
As a result Atzeni, who will take up a licence in Hong Kong soon, has stepped in to fill the breach.
Big Evs on his way to victory at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)
“He’s in good order. He did a good piece of work this morning and he’ll probably have one more piece of work on Wednesday. I’m delighted with him,” said Appleby.
“It’s a long time since a two-year-old has won the Nunthorpe (Kingsgate Native, 2007). So, yes, it’s a big ask for him, but hopefully he’s going there with a very good chance at the weights. Jason doesn’t ride as he is on Highfield Princess. Andrea Atzeni rides.”
Big Evs is the only two-year-old in contention, but there are several three-year-olds, including the King’s Stand winner Bradsell.
Aesop’s Fables, Dramatised, Queen Me and The Antarctic are others engaged for the Classic generation, with Highfield Princess, Khaadem, Regional and Twilight Calls all among the 19 possibles remaining.
Elsewhere on the card, Ralph Beckett has supplemented King’s Gamble for the Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes.
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