03 November 2023 , 22:13
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Britain was celebrating a big win at the Breeders’ Cup with its first runner tonight.
Big Evs, trained in Rutland by Mick Appleby, is owned by Paul Teasdale who named the two-year-old in memory of his larger-than-life pal Paul Evans, alias 'Big Evs", who died of lung cancer a year ago next Wednesday.
The two-year-old won at Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and the Doncaster St Leger Festival.
And he took his first season earnings past £600,000 when he captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, California, under jockey Tom Marquand.
He led a one-two-three for European runners by beating Valiant Force, and Starlust.
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Teasdale said: “This means everything. It’s in memory of an amazing guy and this is a very fitting tribute. It’s my first Group 1 so we are absolutely over the moon.”
Appleby had never had a runner at the Breeders’ Cup before. He said: “I can’t believe it. He’s been an absolute superstar all year and to come here and put in a performance like that is unreal.
“Going into the race I thought he had an outstanding chance, and when Tom rode him in a breeze earlier in the week he couldn’t have been more bullish.
Tom Marquand with Big Evs (Getty Images)“We’ll enjoy it as it’s a dream to be here, never mind go and win. Hopefully he comes out of the race in good order then we’ll make a plan for next season. He really is a horse of a lifetime for us. I can’t thank the team at home enough for all their hard work.”
Marquand was also breaking his duck at the Breeders’ Cup.
“Just amazing,” he said. “Once he got out the gates and we got in an early position, I knew we wouldn’t be far away.
“Turning for home nothing was going to catch him. He put his head down and galloped all the way to the line. To ride a Breeders’ Cup winner is a dream come true. He’s just an exceptional horse.”