By Sean Cronin
RP Racing's Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Hana Lina {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) finished among the tailenders in last month's G1 Nunthorpe at York and rebounded in style with a scintillating pillar-to-post triumph in Friday's G2 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers S. at Doncaster.
The Michael Appleby trainee, who had earlier left his stamp on Royal Ascot's Listed Windsor Castle and Glorious Goodwood's G3 Molecomb, hit the ground running as the traps opened and held an immediate advantage before turning the screw with a 10.72 second furlong. Clear of threats on the front end throughout, the 9-4 favourite was asked to stretch by Tom Marquand with a quarter-mile remaining and enjoyed splendid isolation in the closing stages, hitting the line with a 2 3/4-length buffer back to Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Rosario (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}), who became upset in the stalls beforehand, was best of the rest and finished 1 3/4 lengths adrift in third.
“After he jumped out of the stalls there wasn't really a doubt,” said Appleby after claiming a career high of his own. “You've got to be up the front on this [soft] ground and once he got three or four lengths on them they weren't going to catch him. It is not the ideal ground for him, but he's got the job done well and he's won a Molecomb and a Flying Childers on soft ground now. We just had to put a line through the Nunthorpe. I think he had an exceptionally hard race at Goodwood and that just took its toll.” Looking forward to loftier targets, the trainer added, “I think it will be the Breeders' Cup next for the [GI] Juvenile Turf Sprint and he'll go straight there. It's five furlongs at Santa Anita which should be ideal and, if he can get the rail, he could be difficult to peg back. He's been an amazing horse, the owners have turned down some big bids and there'll be more now, but luckily he's not for sale.”
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).
Big Evs is BACK! 🚀@MickApplebyUK's juvenile rocket is brilliant in the Group 2 Flying Childers! @TomMarquand pic.twitter.com/eM3f9WxPcs
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 15, 2023
Friday, Doncaster, Britain
CARLSBERG DANISH PILSNER FLYING CHILDERS S.-G2, £115,000, Doncaster, 9-15, 2yo, 5f 3yT, :59.89, sf.
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)
(50,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-RP Racing Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Michael Appleby; J-Tom Marquand. £65,217. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $228,283. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Flora Of Bermuda (Ire), 126, f, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Dubai Power (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€65,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; €52,500 Ylg '22 ARAUG; £340,000 2yo '23 GOUKB). O-Bermuda Racing Ltd; B-Francisco Bernal (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £24,725.
3–Rosario (Ire), 129, g, 2, Harry Angel (Ire)–City Glam (Arg), by Grand Reward. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€36,000 Ylg '22 GOFFEB; 20,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Mrs Sue Teal; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Roger Teal. £12,374.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 2.25, 5.00, 33.00.
Also Ran: Malc (GB), Kylian (Ire), Graceful Thunder (GB), Fool's Gold (Ire), Francis Meynell (Ire). Scratched: Inquisitively (GB), Toca Madera (Ire), Valiant Force, Zoulu Chief (GB).
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