3 minute read

Big Easy was produced with a perfectly timed run to claim the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Ridden by Tom Queally, Big Easy hit the front inside the the final furlong of the two-and-quarter-mile feature to land the £155,625 first prize.

Trained by Philip Hobbs and owned by Terry Warner, Big Easy was following in the hoofprints of Detroit City, who won the race for the same connections back in 2006.

Mr Burbridge set the early gallop with Queally adopting a watching brief aboard the 10-1 winner and biding his time as Teak was the first to really kick for home with half a mile still to run.

He was quickly swallowed up and it looked as though Richard Hughes had launched a winning challenge when favourite Quick Jack hit the front, seemingly still travelling well.

However, first De Rigueur and then Big Easy really began to motor, with Queally pushing on inside the distance to record a three-quarter-length victory.

De Rigueur edged Quick Jack into third by a short head, with Brass Ring back in fourth.

Big Easy had finished down the field in the race last year but staked a strong claim for this year's renewal when second in the trial event last month.

Sarah Hobbs, wife of the winning trainer, said: "We're delighted. Last year he had a terrible draw and never got into the race.

"He is going places. When Tom rode him three weeks ago, he got off and his eyes were popping out.

"He said the horse is a machine and I'll go one better for you next time. He said if the ground wasn't too dry, he was made for the Cesarewitch. Tom has always been pretty confident."

Queally told Channel 4 Racing: "I'd planned to be handy, but they went steadier than I thought. He battled and Tony Martin's horse (Quick Jack) kind of got first run on me, but I knew once I got him out of the dip, he'd have a little bit left.

"I rode a little bit handier than I did in the trial and he dug deep. I told the owners I would ride him but it looked like he'd have 8st 4lb and then he went to 8st 7lb, so I thought I'd give it a go for a race like this and a horse like that.

"We thought the cheekpieces would light him up a bit and make my job a little bit easier and he actually took a tug on the way to the start today, but I didn't mind that on the way back."