Big Evs to Make Final Bow at Breeders’ Cup After Nunthorpe Setback

Mick Appleby’s star sprinter, Big Evs, is set to conclude his racing career on the grand stage of the Breeders’ Cup, as the colt looks to bounce back from his recent disappointment in the Nunthorpe Stakes. Despite an underwhelming performance at York, connections remain optimistic about his chances in what will be his final race.

The Blue Point colt, owned by Paul and Rachel Teasdale, has had a remarkable career, though not without its challenges. Last year, as a juvenile, Big Evs took his first shot at the Group One Nunthorpe, only to finish down the field against older and more experienced rivals. It was the sole blemish in an otherwise stellar season, where he secured victories in the Windsor Castle Stakes, the Molecomb Stakes, and later, the Flying Childers Stakes. His crowning achievement came when he stormed to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, showcasing his potential on the international stage.

This season, Big Evs returned to York for his three-year-old campaign, winning the Listed Westow Stakes as a warm-up. He then put in a solid effort at Royal Ascot, finishing third in the King Charles III Stakes, only to turn the tables on his rival Asfoora with a thrilling short-head victory in the King George Stakes at Goodwood.

Hopes were high for a Nunthorpe redemption, but once again, the race did not go to plan. Drawn wide in stall 14, Big Evs struggled to make an impact, finishing eighth of 12 on tacky ground. Despite the setback, Appleby and his team remain confident in their decision to target the Breeders’ Cup for Big Evs’ swan song.

“He’s doing good, obviously we were disappointed, and we think the draw had a lot to do with it,” Appleby reflected. “The ground was quite tacky there, but it was mainly the draw. Anything drawn on the far side didn’t really seem to have much of a chance in the sprints.”

With the Nunthorpe now behind them, the focus shifts entirely to the Breeders’ Cup, where Big Evs will aim to end his career on a high note. “We’ll freshen him up now and head straight to the Breeders’ Cup; that’ll be his last run,” Appleby confirmed. “I think we’ll just go there fresh, that’s the plan with him. It’ll be too soft for him in the Prix de l’Abbaye anyway; it normally is.”

The Teasdales’ racing interests extend beyond Big Evs, as they also own Big Mojo, another promising colt who has been following in his stablemate’s footsteps. Big Mojo captured the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood in July and recently tested the waters over six furlongs in the Gimcrack Stakes at York, where he finished a commendable fourth.

Looking ahead, Appleby has mapped out Big Mojo’s next steps. “I thought he ran very well,” Appleby said of the York performance. “I’m not sure whether he got the six [furlongs] or not, or whether it was more the fact that when he hit the front, he was looking around a fair bit. He’s still a bit green. He’ll go for the Flying Childers next, and if he were to win that, then he could go out to America as well for the race Big Evs won last year.”

As Big Evs gears up for his final race, all eyes will be on the Breeders’ Cup to see if the colt can deliver one last memorable performance, bringing his distinguished career to a fitting close.