3 minute read

Mick Appleby's Royal Ascot winner Big Evs proved that performance was by no means a fluke when staying on stoutly in tough conditions to land the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes.

His Windsor Castle success meant he was sent off the 9/4 joint market leader to land the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and a quick beginning meant Jason Hart was always in command at the head of affairs.

Purosangue made Big Evs pull out all the stops in the closing stages, but Mick Appleby's runner always looked to have his measure clung on to score by a neck.

Kylian, who created a taking impression in Listed company at Sandown on his last outing rattled home to grab third spot.

Mick 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 tough as anything and very quick, that ground just blunted his speed a bit early on. But because he's so tough, he pulled a bit more out at the end.

"I think the Nunthorpe is a realistic target. A two-year-old hasn't won it I don't think since Kingsgate Native. So yeah, it's a possibility. We will speak even more when we've all calmed down a bit.

"It just shows we can do it at the top end."

He added: "He's as tough as anything. He'd be the best 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 1."

With the ground continuing to worsen throughout the day, Appleby had considered pulling out his now Group 3 winner: "Once it started raining… we were talking about it last night and saying that if it went soft, we were going to pull him out. We spoke again earlier and an hour before the race, we were still thinking of pulling out."

On when he got an indication, he could be one of the best two-year-olds he's had, Appleby said: "As soon as we got him. As soon as we got him and started working him, we knew he was special."

A trip to York could be on the cards with both the Gimcrack and Nunthorpe mentioned post-race.

"He's in the Gimcrack, so that's a possibility. We may supplement him for the Nunthorpe now. Contemplating maybe looking at the Breeders' Cup, which may be a possibility now as well.

Jockey Jason Hart added: "He's a very good two-year-old. He's very strong. He's not overly big, but he's strong and he's all there. They are reaping the rewards for running him. He's a nice two-year-old going forward."

Paddy Power cut Big Evs from 8/1 to 5/1 for the Gimcrack and introduced him at 8/1 to the Nunthorpe Stakes.