Mick Appleby optimistic Big Mojo can make next step towards the Commonwealth Cup at Haydock
Mick Appleby remains keen on the Commonwealth Cup with Big Mojo ahead of the three-year-old taking his next step to Royal Ascot in Saturday's Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.
Big Mojo has taken over as the flagbearer for Appleby's yard following the retirement of Big Evs, the Breeders' Cup winner who also ran for owners RP Racing.
Big Evs ran in the King Charles III Stakes as a three-year-old last season and never attempted a distance beyond five furlongs, but Big Mojo, who cost 175,000gns as a yearling, proved he can handle further when winning the Pavilion Stakes over six furlongs at Ascot last month.
Fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, the same race Big Evs won 12 months earlier, his return win was a career best on Racing Post Ratings and means he heads into this weekend's Group 2 at Haydock as the general 5-2 favourite.
Appleby said: “He’s in good form. Big Mojo came out of Ascot really well. He’s going to Haydock in great shape and hopefully he can get the win.”
The Sandy Lane Stakes often proves a key stepping stone to Royal Ascot, with last year’s winner Inisherin going on to land the Commonwealth Cup. Appleby is eyeing a similar path for Big Mojo, although he does hold a King Charles III Stakes entry.
He said: “We’ll see how he goes on Saturday and take a look, but I think it’ll be the Commonwealth Cup."
Comparing the two, Appleby said Big Mojo does not quite have the speed of Big Evs. He said: “I don’t think he’s got the build that Big Evs had. But Big Mojo gets six furlongs – Big Evs never raced beyond five.
"Big Mojo holds his own. It’s always good to have a flagbearer and a decent horse in the yard – it lifts everybody.”
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