‘One in a million’ Big Evs narrowly denies brave Asfoora in thrilling King George Stakes
Having finished third and first respectively in the King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at Royal Ascot in June, the Mick Appleby-trained Big Evs (Blue Point) and Henry Dwyer’s tenacious mare Asfoora (Flying Artie) once again did battle in Friday’s King George Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Goodwood.
However, having come out on top in the feature five-furlong Group 1 at the royal meeting, it was the Australian raider who had to settle for minor honours behind Appleby’s rapid three-year-old.
Jumping from stall seven under Tom Marquand, Big Evs bounced out well from the gates and was quickly in his customary position on the pace, with Asfoora settled in mid-pack behind her old rival.
Travelling strongly with two furlongs left to run, and with most in behind feeling the pinch, Marquand pushed Big Evs into a clear lead and the pair soon quickened a couple of lengths clear of their nine rivals.
Coming into the final furlong, the leaders looked vulnerable as Oisin Murphy and Asfoora, who was carrying a two-pound penalty for her Royal Ascot win, made their push for victory, but they were to be narrowly denied as Big Evs held on for a game short-head success. Believing (Mehmas), who had finished fourth behind Asfoora at Ascot, was a further three-quarters of a length back in third place.
Winning rider Tom Marquand told ITV: “He’s nearly got too much speed. He was eating up the ground and I tried to get half a breather into him before taking it up. He’s got so much raw boot and there isn’t much point in trying to tame that as he grits down for you too.
“We were very open as to what was going to happen early. He’s an exceptional racehorse.”
With the score between Asfoora and Big Evs now sitting at one win each following Friday’s Group 2 contest, York’s Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) on August 23 looks set to serve as the ideal opportunity for the speedballs to settle the score, a target Appleby confirmed would be next for Big Evs.
“He’s one in a million, the best I’ve trained by a long way,” the winning trainer said. “That was very good. It’s unbelievable really, to think where I was 10-15 years ago to where we are now.
“We have some great owners now that support the yard – they spend the money and I get results like this. We have a great team at home that works very hard.
“I would say it will be the Nunthorpe and then Breeders’ Cup and off to stud for Big Evs now.”
Big Evs (3 c Blue Point – Hana Lina by Oasis Dream) was cut to 4-1 for the Nunthorpe Stakes at York’s Ebor festival, while Asfoora was trimmed to 3-1 favourite with Dwyer having previously revealed that York is the plan for his daughter of Flying Artie (Artie Schiller).
“I’m very proud of her and very happy with Oisin’s ride,” Dwyer said. “You could just tell about 100 metres from the start of coming down the hill there, she just came off the bridle – she’s a quick mare but they went a bit quick for her early.
“The leaders here just have such an easy time of it early, because they run downhill for the first 400 [metres]. It levels out a bit after that, but if they’re going quick early, they get an easy time. She’s gone terrific – I couldn’t have hoped for her to go better, just disappointed not to win, having gone so well.
“Big Evs was able to control his own destiny, whereas we were stuck behind a couple, got a bit of a bump at around the 300 [metre mark], I think that has probably cost her the win, but she’s run great.
“It doesn’t matter – we won at Ascot, so we’re just happy to be competing and running well. Everyone’s been so great to us, and we’ve just very much enjoyed the experience.”