Mick Appleby has delivered a positive winter bulletin on star sprinter Big Evs, as connections prepare to map out the three-year-old campaign for the Breeders’ Cup hero.

The speedy son of Blue Point was one of the standout sprinting juveniles of the 2023 season, winning four of his six starts and ending the year with success at Santa Anita in November.

That big-race verdict had connections dreaming of what the colt could achieve this year and having strengthened up during his time off, he is now reported to be in rude health as he begins building up to peak fitness ahead of the new term.

Appleby has his eye on a May return, but suitable ground appears to be crucial with the Oakham handler hesitant to start his stable standard bearer off in testing conditions.

“He’s doing well and back in training now. He’s wintered well and grown and filled out more – he looks a bit stronger now,” said Appleby.

“I’m going to have a sit down with his owner soon and map out a campaign for him. We would probably look at getting out May time I think, it’s just working out what there is for him early season really.

“It will all depend on what the ground will be like really more than anything – we don’t want it too soft, even though he handled it at Glorious Goodwood when he won on bottomless ground.

“We will play it by ear with him and he’s getting fitter, so we’ll crack on with him and see when he’s ready.”

Appleby is also preparing high-class operators Roberto Escobarr and Annaf for international duty in Saudi Arabia next month, where both will seek valuable prizes at the Saudi Cup meeting.

A three-time winner when trained by William Haggas, Roberto Escobarr claimed the Italian St Leger on stable debut for his new handler in November and after a tune-up run at Newcastle on New Year’s Day is now hoping for a bit of luck to ensure he makes the line-up for the $2.5million Red Sea Turf Handicap.

“Roberto Escobarr ran well at Newcastle and he’s possibly going out to Saudi for the Red Sea Handicap,” added Appleby.

“He needs three to come out at the moment, so hopefully he gets in and we’ve got Annaf going out there as well for the turf sprint. He’s in the dirt race as well but he’ll run on the turf.

“There’s a bit to look forward to with two nice horses and it’ll break the winter up a bit.”

Frederick Larson knew from the very beginning that Big Evs was an exceptional talent and the horse he has helped guide from raw novice to Breeders’ Cup champion provided the apprentice jockey with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when accompanying the star speedster to Santa Anita.

The son of Blue Point’s Breeders’ Cup heroics may have provided Mick Appleby with the finest moment of his training career but it was also the culmination of a long season’s work for the handler’s stable apprentice, who has taken on the responsibility of nurturing Big Evs and guiding him to the top of the sprinting tree.

It is a role that saw the 24-year-old on the plane to California to help put the finishing touches to the colt’s Breeders’ Cup preparations.

But the young jockey has been a permanent feature of the Big Evs story from the very first day the precocious youngster stepped foot into Appleby’s Rutland base.

“It’s always a pleasure to ride nice horses – and ones like him, they don’t come around often,” said Larson.

“We knew he was pretty special from early on and I’ve ridden him every day since we’ve had him. It’s just been nice to see the progression and he’s turned so professional, you can see the growth in him and in his mind as well.”

The majority of Larson’s 77 winners on the Flat have been aboard Appleby’s ever-expanding string, but the biggest success of his fledgling career came at York in the summer, when he expertly partnered Amy Murphy’s Pride Of America to the narrowest of John Smith’s Cup triumphs.

And it was when riding for the Newmarket-based handler in the spring that Larson first let the cat out of the bag that he might have unearthed something special back in Rutland.

Larson added: “I said to Amy Murphy one day in March when I was riding work on her two-year-olds that ‘I think I’ve just ridden the best horse I’ve ever ridden’.

“He was raw and he went and got beat first time out and we weren’t even disappointed. In fact, we were actually delighted because we knew that he would progress.

“We always knew he was special but to do what he’s done, and the way he did it at Royal Ascot and then to have to dig it out on heavy ground at Goodwood, that is the true sign of a true champion. To do it on any track and any ground, they have all come and tried and they have all been beaten.”

For some, the role of work rider to one of the most exciting juvenile prospects in Britain may prove too much, but Larson has relished the journey and, having been faultless in the build-up to his American assignment, he was simply keen for Big Evs to showcase his talent to the world on the biggest stage of all.

He added: “I never feel too much pressure when I’m riding in races myself, but it has been a weird feeling all year, just because I know how good he is and I wanted him to show how good I knew he was.

“I said to Mick when he came over, he’s not missed a beat since he’s arrived and for a two-year-old to handle everything the way he did is a credit to himself.

“I thought we were going there with a great chance and it sounds stupid now, but I would have been disappointed if he didn’t win because I knew how good he was.

“I know he got beaten in the Nunthorpe, but it is a different kettle of fish when he’s back taking on two-year-olds – and I’ve ridden a fair few two-year-olds in my time and knew he was special. I was just glad he turned up on the day.

“I have enjoyed getting him ready this year and he’s made life easy for me really, he’s just great.”

Larson was joined Stateside by Tara Belfield, Appleby’s head girl, who previously had only ventured as far as Ireland with a member of the Appleby string.

Having worked up from stable hand to her current position, she was entrusted with shuttling Big Evs across the Atlantic, something which proved a much simpler task than imagined, as the classy colt enjoyed one-on-one attention in the California sun.

She said: “I really enjoyed myself, it’s the first time I’ve taken one abroad – I’ve taken one to Ireland, but this was a bit different, it was 11 hours each way on a plane for a start.

“All in all, the horse travelled for about 24 hours and he was fine and he handled everything really well. He handled it like a pro.

“One-horse trips are very easy actually, we love a one-horse trip. There was two of us there and we got a holiday and Big Evs got all the love – well I would say he was loving it, but he’s a grumpy little sausage.”

Belfield sacrificed going on holiday to accompany Big Evs to the American West Coast, for a trip that was just a far-flung dream when first joining the team at The Homestead eight years ago.

“I was supposed to be on holiday with my other half but California took over,” she continued.

“When I started, we didn’t have half the horses and ones that were giving us these opportunities, so to have a horse like him on the yard and to go to places like the Breeders’ Cup is ridiculous.”

The enormity of the occasion eventually took its toll on Appleby’s weary travelling team and, after their champion was awarded his famous flower garland and received the adulations of the Santa Anita crowd, the need for some well-earned rest meant celebrations had to be delayed by 24 hours.

“The adrenaline ran out and it all just hit us,” Belfield added. “There is such a build-up and it just takes it out of you.

“Everything was going so well out there, everything that could have gone wrong didn’t and everything that we needed to go right did – it was just what we wanted. So we were expecting good things and I’m glad he won because we would have been disappointed if he didn’t.

“I think we were in bed for half seven that night, even the owners went for a meal and didn’t go out partying. We partied hard though the next day, so it was fine.”

Mick Appleby’s star juvenile Big Evs will put Nunthorpe disappointment behind him and press on with his sprint campaign.

The Blue Point colt scored at two of the biggest summer meetings when landing the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and then the Molecomb at Goodwood.

Both contests are restricted to two-year-olds, but his success inspired connections to step markedly up in grade and take on older horses in the Group One Nunthorpe at York’s Ebor meeting.

The bay was a 5-1 chance under Andrea Atzeni when banking a weight allowance for his age, but the race never looked his for the taking as he faded to finish 14th of 16 runners.

Big Evs trotted up sound after the run and was found to be bearing no ill effects, leaving Appleby to conclude that he had simply had a harder race than first thought at Goodwood.

With the horse in good health, there are no plans to cut his season short and he could head next for the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster before an American foray is planned to take aim at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

“He’s absolutely fine, he came back fine and we had bloods taken and couldn’t find anything amiss,” Appleby said.

“He trotted up sound, I think it’s just that he had a lot harder race at Goodwood than we thought.

“It was a big ask for a two-year-old against older horses at this time of year, but I think it was more that – he’d just had a hard enough race at Goodwood and it came a couple of weeks too soon for him.

“He’s come out of it well, anyway, so we’ll just dust ourselves down and go again.

“He’ll possibly go to the Flying Childers and then the main aim is the Breeders’ Cup.

“It’s an easy five furlongs, it’s on the turf at Santa Anita and that should suit him so provided it doesn’t hammer down with rain, we’ll head there.”

Big Evs has been supplemented for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday – where Andrea Atzeni will ride.

Mick Appleby’s speedy two-year-old won the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot by three lengths and then followed up at Goodwood in the Molecomb.

He was ridden in both those victories by Jason Hart but he understandably maintains his partnership with John Quinn’s Highfield Princess.

As a result Atzeni, who will take up a licence in Hong Kong soon, has stepped in to fill the breach.

“He’s in good order. He did a good piece of work this morning and he’ll probably have one more piece of work on Wednesday. I’m delighted with him,” said Appleby.

“It’s a long time since a two-year-old has won the Nunthorpe Kingsgate Native, 2007). So, yes, it’s a big ask for him, but hopefully he’s going there with a very good chance at the weights. Jason doesn’t ride as he is on Highfield Princess. Andrea Atzeni rides.”

Big Evs proved his surprise Royal Ascot success was no fluke with victory in the Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.

Narrowly beaten on his debut at Redcar in May, Mick Appleby’s juvenile was sent off at 20-1 for the Windsor Castle Stakes but ran out a clear-cut winner.

He was the 9-4 joint-favourite to follow up at Group Three level and a smart start meant he was soon leading the field in the hands of Jason Hart.

Purosangue came at him hard as the post loomed, but Big Evs kept responding to pressure and clung on by a neck.

Kylian, the other 9-4 favourite, appeared outpaced early on, but made late progress to place third and may well have finished closer with a clearer run.

Betfair cut Big Evs to 5-1 from 8-1 for the Gimcrack at York on August 25, although connections also raised the possibility of paying the £40,000 required to supplement him for the Nunthorpe on the same day.

He is an 8-1 shot with Paddy Paddy Power to become the first two-year-old to win the all-aged Group One since Kingsgate Native in 2007.

Mick Appleby’s Big Evs is Goodwood-bound after a memorable victory at Royal Ascot.

The Blue Point colt had a second-placed debut run under his belt when he lined up at 20-1 in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot last Wednesday, but under Jason Hart he was a decisive winner when defeating Aidan O’Brien’s 100-30 favourite Johannes Brahms by three lengths.

The Molecomb at Goodwood’s headline meeting is next on the agenda, a Group Three run over five furlongs, with a trip to the Knavesmire at York also pencilled in later in the season.

Appleby said: “I did quite fancy him because he worked well with Annaf (King’s Stand third) the Saturday before.”

“I was pretty confident he would finish in the first three but I didn’t think he would win like that. Obviously he is a very good horse.

“I had plenty of messages of congratulations afterwards which I was very appreciative of. It is what we do it for and Royal Ascot is where everyone wants to have winners.

“He is more than likely to now go for the Molecomb at Goodwood. I think that is the most obvious target for him and then we will go from there.”

At York the two-year-old could stick to five furlongs for the Nunthorpe, but there is also a chance he could step up a furlong and take on the Gimcrack Stakes instead.

Appleby said: “We’ve said we will possibly look at the Nunthorpe afterwards but Goodwood is next on the agenda. We did half think about going for the Gimcrack at York after Goodwood as well.

“Whether he will get six furlongs I don’t know, but it didn’t look like he was stopping at Ascot.

“At York I think he probably would get six furlongs, but we will get Goodwood done first then make a decision which route we take after that.

“The owner has had a few offers on the table for him but he is not interested in selling him which is good to see.”

Mick Appleby’s Big Evs is Goodwood-bound after a memorable victory at Royal Ascot.

The Blue Point colt had a second-placed debut run under his belt when he lined up at 20-1 in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot last Wednesday, but under Jason Hart he was a decisive winner when defeating Aidan O’Brien’s 100-30 favourite Johannes Brahms by three lengths.

The Molecomb at Goodwood’s headline meeting is next on the agenda, a Group Three run over five furlongs, with a trip to the Knavesmire at York also pencilled in later in the season.

Appleby said: “I did quite fancy him because he worked well with Annaf (King’s Stand third) the Saturday before.”

“I was pretty confident he would finish in the first three but I didn’t think he would win like that. Obviously he is a very good horse.

“I had plenty of messages of congratulations afterwards which I was very appreciative of. It is what we do it for and Royal Ascot is where everyone wants to have winners.

“He is more than likely to now go for the Molecomb at Goodwood. I think that is the most obvious target for him and then we will go from there.”

At York the two-year-old could stick to five furlongs for the Nunthorpe, but there is also a chance he could step up a furlong and take on the Gimcrack Stakes instead.

Appleby said: “We’ve said we will possibly look at the Nunthorpe afterwards but Goodwood is next on the agenda. We did half think about going for the Gimcrack at York after Goodwood as well.

“Whether he will get six furlongs I don’t know, but it didn’t look like he was stopping at Ascot.

“At York I think he probably would get six furlongs, but we will get Goodwood done first then make a decision which route we take after that.

“The owner has had a few offers on the table for him but he is not interested in selling him which is good to see.”

Mick Appleby registered his first Royal Ascot victory when Big Evs stormed to glory in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

It was also only a second winner at the Royal meeting for jockey Jason Hart who had the once-raced son of Blue Point always to the fore in the five-furlong Listed event.

Although only second on debut at Redcar, he took a huge step forward on this occasion and appeared to have plenty in the tank as Hart asked his mount to make his bid for home passing the two-furlong pole.

He soon displayed both a phenomenal turn of foot and strong staying power as he drew clear of his pursuers in the closing stages, with the 20-1 winner finishing three lengths clear of the 100-30 Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite Johannes Brahms and Ollie Sangster’s first Royal Ascot runner Inquisitively a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

Appleby said: “He’s won really well. He worked with Annaf (third in Tuesday’s King’s Stand) so we knew he was good. We really fancied him today, to be honest.

“Well done to all the team at home as they are working hard all week so I can come and enjoy it here.

“I’m not really surprised he’s won like that because he’s got so much speed, I’ve never had a two-year-old as quick as him.

“I’m not really sure where we go now, they will be big targets though so we’ll just see where we go with him.”