There's a distinct Jamie Vardy vibe about Mick Appleby. Both hail from Yorkshire, both boast impressive success rates in their respective fields, and just as Leicester's forward often had his non-league beginnings highlighted, Appleby is still fondly remembered by many racing enthusiasts for his early days as the 'king of the sand'. By Sunday morning, however, he might have a new moniker: the king of Grade One sprinters.
Big Evs, Appleby's first Breeders' Cup runner and winner, clinched the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita a year ago. Now, he's back in southern California aiming for the Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Saturday night. Remarkably, Appleby has unearthed another swift juvenile, Big Mojo, to vie for a repeat victory in the Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday.
Both Big Evs and Big Mojo race under the colors of Paul and Rachael Teasdale. They acquired Big Evs for a modest 50,000gns (£52,500) and reinvested 175,000gns (£183,750) of his £620,000 earnings in 2023 into Big Mojo. With thousands of two-year-olds bred annually, the odds of Big Mojo emulating Big Evs' Breeders' Cup success were slim. Yet, Appleby and his new owners saw potential in Big Mojo they were resolute to secure.
"We liked everything about him," Paul Teasdale remarked on Thursday. "He was the standout horse at that sale for us. Despite strong bidding, we decided, 'we're having him.' It was one of those days when we weren't going to be outbid."
A few years prior, Teasdale also saw promise in Appleby. "We did some research and sought a yard that was professional yet personal," he says. "Mick and his team have very content horses, which significantly contributes to their success. Many have told Mick: you've come from this to this. I believe with the quality and class Mick and his team possess, and the right support, this is where you end up, at the Breeders' Cup."
The Juvenile Turf Sprint kicks off the meeting and is one of the most competitive, with British bookmakers struggling to pinpoint a favorite. It also ties together many narratives for the weekend, as Aidan O'Brien, who fields City Of Troy in the Classic, has two top contenders in Whistlejacket and Ides Of March, with the latter to be ridden by Frankie Dettori before his major shot on Emily Upjohn in Saturday's Turf.
Big Mojo's biggest rival might be Ecoro Sieg, one of around a dozen Japanese runners at this year's meeting. With starters in nine of the 14 races, it signals a strong intent from Japan's robust and growing racing industry. The squad includes Forever Young, a challenger to City Of Troy and the local hope Fierceness in the Classic.
The Breeders' Cup is often likened to racing's Ryder Cup, pitting Europe's best against America's elite. But this year's event promises to be truly global, and Ecoro Sieg (9.45pm) has a stellar chance to kick off Japan's weekend with a win. He shattered a 22-year-old track record at Nakayama in September by 0.6sec, shaving 0.3sec off Japan's all-time six-furlong record for a juvenile. Despite a draw in stall eight, anything close to his last form could be enough.
O'Brien is two wins shy of tying the all-time Breeders' Cup record, and the favorite Lake Victoria (11.05pm) could secure one of those in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. A strong European presence includes New Century, Aomori City, and Al Qudra in the Juvenile Turf, but Zulu Kingdom (12.25am), who impressed at Aqueduct, is a strong contender for the home team. East Avenue (11.45pm), owned by Godolphin's US arm, and another Japanese-trained runner, American Bikini (10.25pm), with Ryan Moore set to ride, are also solid bets at the likely odds in the Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies’ respectively.
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