Appleby hopeful Big Evs can overcome wide draw

A winner at the Breeders’ Cup last year, Mick Appleby’s star is back for more.

Mick Appleby is backing Big Evs to have the speed to counteract his unkind post position when his sprinting star bids for back-to-back victories at the Breeders’ Cup.

The son of Blue Point scorched to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint success at Santa Anita 12 months ago and returns to California for the swansong of his career in Saturday’s Turf Sprint.

However, he has been drawn in stall 11 alongside Archie Watson’s Bradsell in 12 and Appleby feels he will have to use all of his key natural attributes if he is to achieve what would be a phenomenal double at the Stateside event.

Big Evs after his Santa Anita victory
Big Evs after his Santa Anita victory (PA)

Appleby told Sky Sports Racing: “We’d have preferred to be drawn four or five, but it is what is is and he has very good gate speed and hopefully he can get out quick and go forward.

“We have Bradsell on his outside, who is also very quick. It’s just how quick he can get out and across until he gets to the bend.

“I think Cogburn (Steven Asmussen’s favourite) is the main one to beat, but you can’t rule any of them out really and at this level they are all there trying to win and are very good horses. On the day you just need a lot of luck.

“We have had a few disappointments and I think the ground made the difference at York, but he’s in really good form, he’s really well in himself and he’s fresh – I think he’s a lot better when he’s fresh. I think he’s going there with a really live chance.”

Aesterius (left) and Big Mojo (right) will lock horns again at Del Mar
Aesterius (left) and Big Mojo (right) will lock horns again at Del Mar (Mike Egerton/PA)

Appleby will also saddle Big Mojo, who as well as sporting the same colours of Paul and Rachael Teasdale, will bid to follow in the footsteps of Big Evs and take home the Juvenile Turf Sprint trophy.

Like Big Evs, Big Mojo will be ridden by Tom Marquand and the Del Mar sprint shootout will be the rubber match of the colt’s rivalry with Wathnan Racing contender Aesterius, with the scoreline locked at one-all following their ding-dong battles on home soil this summer.

“I’m very happy with that draw and he’s got good gate speed,” continued Appleby.

“He’s a completely different horse to Big Evs and he doesn’t need to lead, but I’m very happy with stall three. Tom will just be able to get him out and sit behind the leaders.

“It’s going to be very hard and Aesterius is a very good horse who is going to be very difficult to beat. You never know around a bend and we gave Big Mojo a gallop at Southwell and he handled the bend really well, so I’m really hopeful.

“As soon as we got him and started working we knew we had something special. He was showing us similar signs to Big Evs the year before when he came to us. He’s a lot bigger than Big Evs and I think he will improve a lot as a three-year-old.

“It would be very nice if we were to get a double. But I think they both go there with live chances. They are fit and well and should both run their races, we just hope for a bit of luck in running.”

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