A three time Group I winning sprinter at Royal Ascot, Darley shuttler Blue Point (IRE) broke the ice for his first stakes-winner at Royal Ascot overnight with talented colt Big Evs breaking his maiden with a wide margin win in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes (5f).
Trained by Michael Appleby and ridden by Jason Hart, Big Evs was second on debut at Redcar last month and was sent off as a 20-1 chance.
He proved far too good for the favourite Johannes Brahms, a Coolmore owned son of Siyouni that had won on debut and ran well again to finish second beaten three lengths by Big Evs.
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uo;Big Evs worked with Annaf (third King’s Stand) last week and so I thought he had to have a great chance here. He's an absolute machine. I knew he'd get the job done to be fair, because when he worked with Annaf I thought this is a good horse. We really fancied him at Redcar, but the draw just did us,” said Michael Appleby.
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, Big Evs was a 50,000 guinea purchase from the Tattersalls October Book 2 Yearling Sale for Michael Cleere and runs for RP Racing.
He is the best of four winners from Hana Lina, a placed half-sister to Group III winner Lady of the Desert (dam of Group II winner Queen Kindly) from Group I winner Queen’s Logic. It’s a top class family that also features European Horse of the Year Dylan Thomas and Group I winners Homecoming Queen, Shale and Serpentine.
Big Evs is the 14th first crop winner for Blue Point and is his first stakes-winner.
Blue Point returns to Darley Victoria this spring at a fee of $44,000 and will have his first runners here next season.
