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| Staff Writer |
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With his first Breeders' Cup winner in the Juvenile Turf Sprint with Big Evs and his first Saudi win with Annaf landing the Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint, Michael Appleby is truly coming into his own. The Yorkshireman is becoming a force to be reckoned with both when it comes to race planning and horse training. With the Royal meeting on the agenda, Appleby reveals that a win at the King Charles III Stakes could likely pave the way for Big Evs’ participation in the Breeders Cup.
“It would be great to get a free ticket in there. We would probably have at least one race in between, possibly two before we travel to the US.
“I'm not sure whether we would go to Goodwood again after Ascot like we did last year. We will see what happens during Ascot first, then make his plan from there,” he explains.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Royal Ascot, Appleby seems optimistic: "We already have a feeling it’s going to be great. It's going to be a very good field this year, better than previous years.”
Despite some setbacks in the past, such as an unexpectedly tough race at Goodwood, Appleby remains steadfast in his belief in Big Evs, “This year will be great. He’s proven himself time and time again.”
The 3YO colt bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, is a symbol of Appleby's talent and dedication to his craft. His record remains an incredible feat that underscores the meticulous planning and hard work put in by Appleby and his team.
Appleby ardently notes, "Yes, undefeated this year, so far," a clear indication of his excitement and pride.
With Big Evs having won five out of his seven starts, Appleby recounts the nerve-wracking experience leading up to the Westow Stakes (Listed). For Appleby, the stakes were high as it was Big Evs' first outing as a 3YO.
"We were very nervous, obviously, going in first time as a three-year-old with him. You never know how he will train on as a three-year-old. But we had to take the risk. It was even more nerve-wracking when he missed the break," reflects Appleby.
However, his faith in jockey Tom Marquand proved to be well-founded. His patient approach played a crucial role in Big Evs' successful performance.
"Tom took the time coming into the race rather than rushing him forward, which I think was a good idea. Obviously, he went on to winning in good style," Appleby recounts.
Appleby doesn’t plan to change Big Evs' preparation routine, asserting, "No, I won't do anything different. We will just have a normal preparation. He's a professional, so there's no need to change anything.”
On the topic of the jockey, he says: "Hopefully we can get Tom to ride him again."
In terms of owner expectations, Appleby seems fortunate to have supportive clients in Paul and Rachel Teasdale.
"The owners are very good. They leave it to me. Obviously, we make the decision about the jockey and the races together. We are all on the same page," he shares.
Big Evs was named after racing fan and friend of owner Paul Teasdale, Paul Evans who died in 2022.
The partnership with the Teasdales was serendipitous, with the former owner's recommendation playing a pivotal role in their collaboration.
"He came to me. They had horses with another trainer for probably 25 years. When he decided to retire two years ago, he recommended me to Paul as we are both Yorkshiremen. We now have ten horses from them now."
When it comes to Big Evs' future beyond the Breeders Cup, retirement seems to be on the horizon. "The Breeders Cup I would think that possibly be his last race. I think he will get retired and sent to stud at the end of the 3YO campaign. We already have quite a lot of offers for him,” Appleby reveals.
Another star in Appleby’s stable, Annaf, is making a much-anticipated return from Dubai this week. “He’s coming back this week. It's good to finally have him back,” Appleby shares.
Annaf, contracted pneumonia before he was due to participate on Dubai World Cup. He has been through an extended recovery period and is gearing up for his next challenge. "As per the plan at the moment, Goodwood will be his next race. But we need to see how he looks and how he travels back. We got Korea and possibly Japan on the radar later on in the year," Appleby explains.
Adding the necessary precaution of assessing Annaf’s readiness post-travel, he says, "But first we need to see how he does when he comes back and how quickly he recovers. I've seen some videos of him, and he looks very well. The hospital made a full recovery, and he has no mishaps on the flight.”
Appleby attributes Annaf's recovery to the excellent care he received at the Dubai Equine Hospital. "They've looked after him very well. He looks really good. We appreciate it," he acknowledges.
Concerning future acquisitions, Appleby plans to focus on specific sales: "I don't think we've got any more sales left this year. I went to Breeze Up Sale at Newmarket and Doncaster. We want to stick to our Breeze Ups and we know what we're buying." This strategy seems to underscore his preference for quality over quantity.
But returning to the racing calendar, the story of Big Evs and Annaf continues to unfold under Appleby’s watchful eye, as they aim for international glory at the highest levels.