Michael Appleby recorded his first Breeders’ Cup success when Big Evs landed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
The all-the-way Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes winner broke smartly from stall four and soon tracked the pace under Tom Marquand. The speed began to quicken as the field turned for home and Marquand was poised to strike with two furlongs to run, with fellow Royal Ascot winner Crimson Advocate leading up the pace.
The son of Blue Point, who was sent 10/3 to give Mick Appleby the biggest win of his career, kicked for home up the Santa Anita straight and showed a smart turn of foot to put daylight between himself and the rest of the field. The pack began to close but Marquand and Big Evs had enough up their sleeve, hanging on in the closing stages to score.
Fellow Royal Ascot winner Valiant Force chased the winner home, with the Ralph Beckett-trained Starlust and Frankie Dettori completing the 1-2-3 for European raiders.
Marquand said: "He's a champion, he's taken it all in his stride and it was a proper buzz to be on board him today.
"As we levelled up, he was never getting beat. Plan A was to go forward but they were going pretty quick, but I was happy on the three-deep trail as I was happy to build momentum.
"The credit goes to everyone else as it's very easy to ride horses like this on a fast track."
The Rutland-based trainer suggested 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 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."
