With a thrilling victory in the eventmasters.co.uk Commonwealth Cup Trial, Big Mojo secured his passage to Royal Ascot; however, it is unclear which sprint he will ultimately compete in. As a juvenile last season, Mick Appleby’s horse competed with the best, following in the footsteps of his legendary stablemate Big Evs by winning the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood and then going on to win the Gimcrack at York, the Flying Childers at Doncaster, and the Breeders’ Cup. On his first start as a three-year-old, Big Mojo was a 4-1 favorite under Tom Marquand and, although he hung across the track after being produced with his challenge, he found sufficient of pressure to score by half a length off the lead. This was only his second time racing over six furlongs Diablo Rojo.
A return to the Berkshire circuit is definitely on the menu when Paddy Power reduced the winner’s odds for the Commonwealth Cup from 25-1 to 14-1. However, a drop back to five furlongs for the King Charles III Stakes, where Big Evs finished third against his elders last year, is a possible substitute. I believe it would be more likely that we would fall that way (King Charles). He is competing in both races, though,” Appleby said to Sky Sports Racing. “Having a good two-year-old raises questions about whether or not they have trained, but at home, he seems to have done so and has been doing admirably against some of the more experienced horses. “I’m incredibly happy with him.” Marquand said that he supported a drop back to the minimum trip, saying: “He’s a very good horse, he showed that last year and I think it’s just changed him a little bit as a type as well – the second I even went to think about going this lad was up and away, which is something he didn’t do last year in quite the same manner.
“I thought that was a good performance; he did well to go and win, and I think he could be lethal here over five (furlongs) on a track like Ascot, where you’re going to get tempo and he doesn’t lack early speed or ability to travel.” I still believe that he should go six furlongs on the ideal track, but Ascot being Ascot, it is very likely that he will move back to five furlongs.
