By Sean Cronin
RP Racing's Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Hana Lina {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) shed maiden status with an impressive win in Royal Ascot's Listed Windsor Castle S. and once again showcased raw speed over the same five-furlong trip to garner Wednesday's G3 Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb S. at Goodwood.
The Michael Appleby representative was the sharpest of eight into stride and seized an immediate lead racing underneath the stands' side rail. Comfortable on the front end until nudged along passing the quarter-mile marker, the 9-4 joint-favourite was strongly pressed by 'TDN Rising Star' Purosangue (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}) inside the final furlong and refused to buckle under a late drive to hold that rival by a neck in game fashion. Fellow joint-favourite Kylian (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) ran on well from off the pace to finish 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
“I don't think he really liked the [heavy] ground, but he has toughed it out and done that very well,” said Appleby. “He is as tough as anything and very quick, but that ground just blunted his speed. I think the [G1] Nunthorpe is a realistic target, but a 2-year-old has not won the Nunthorpe since Kingsgate Native [in 2007]. It is a possibility and we will speak even more when we have all calmed down a bit. As soon as we got Big Evs and started working him, we knew he was special and he would be the best we have had so far. Hopefully, he'll give us a first Group 1.”
Winning rider Jason Hart added, “I'd say he has won despite the ground. He's all 2-year-old and, with his good draw, it was the right thing to run him. He travelled grand, but at halfway he started hanging and I had to get him rolling forward to get him to negotiate that. We got racing sooner than I wanted, but I had to do that to keep him straight and he has proved he can dig deep. He is not very big, but he has plenty of speed and a real will to win. I am delighted for Mick [Appleby] and all the team.”
Reflecting on the performance of Purosangue, Andrew Balding commented, “We are just thrilled the horse is back on form. He created a very good impression first time out and we just thought he did things the wrong way round at Newmarket [in the G2 July S.]. That was much more like it and he was beaten by a very good horse. He won on pretty good ground at Haydock, so I think he's quite versatile. He looks like he is made for the [Listed] Roses S. at York.”
Pedigree Notes
Big Evs, the sixth of eight foals, is one of four scorers thrown by a daughter of G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning European champion Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge), herself a half-sister to MG1SW sire Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill) and G1 1000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Queen's Logic's leading performer is G2 Lowther S., G2 Diadem S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. victrix Lady Of The Desert (Rahy), who also hit the board in the G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye. Lady Of The Desert, in turn, is the dam of G2 Lowther S. winner Queen Kindly (GB) (Frankel {GB}), herself the dam of Lowther runner-up and G3 Firth Of Clyde S. third Queen Me (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The March-foaled bay, whose family also features G1 Derby hero Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is kin to a yearling filly by Ribchester (Ire) and a weanling colt by Earthlight (Ire).
Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
JAEGER-LECOULTRE MOLECOMB S.-G3, £100,000, Goodwood, 8-2, 2yo, 5fT, 1:01.27, hy.
1–BIG EVS (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Hana Lina (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Queen's Logic (Ire), by Grand Lodge
3rd Dam: Lagrion, by Diesis (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. (50,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-RP Racing Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Michael Appleby; J-Jason Hart. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $147,349. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Purosangue (GB), 129, c, 2, Aclaim (Ire)–Avon Breeze (GB), by Avonbridge (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£35,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK; £125,000 2yo '23 GOUKB). O-Opulence Thoroughbreds & Teme Valley; B-Hellwood Stud Farm & R C Dollar (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £21,500.
3–Kylian (Ire), 129, c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Hikmaa (Ire), by Roderic O'Connor (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Karl Burke. £10,760.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 3. Odds: 2.25, 5.50, 2.25.
Also Ran: Baheer (Ire), Markakol (GB), Shagraan (Ire), Hackman (Ire), Barnwell Boy (GB).
The Royal Ascot winner follows up at @Goodwood_Races!
Big Evs (Blue Point) shows tenacity as well as no little class to land the Molecomb Stakes, a first winner at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for @MickApplebyUK 👏 @jasonhart13 pic.twitter.com/sSqfepOdHp
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 2, 2023
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
