Tom Marquand hopes to cap dream season with Breeders' Cup glory as pocket rocket Big Evs has got 'a good draw' in the Juvenile Turf Sprint

Tom Marquand kept turning his caput arsenic he tried to return successful nan sights and sounds. The San Gabriel Mountains were down him, arsenic nan Californian sunrise burnt done successful nan distance. For once, he knew really it felt to beryllium a tourer alternatively than a jockey.

‘It’s conscionable spectacular, isn’t it?’ said Marquand. ‘It’s for illustration being connected a movie set, it’s truthful cool. It’s decidedly 1 of nan astir picturesque tracks successful nan world. I’ve ever loved Goodwood but it’s a small spot different, isn’t it? It’s conscionable bully to beryllium present — particularly pinch a equine for illustration him.’

If Marquand was successful awe of Santa Anita, nan people dubbed ‘The Great Race Place’, he is moreover much enamoured pinch Big Evs, nan colt who will springiness him his first rotation successful nan Breeders’ Cup connected Friday nighttime erstwhile he contests nan Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Marquand has had a dream season. He was fixed Royal support successful nan summer, pinch King Charles personally expressing his delight and acknowledgment to nan 25-year-old for his winning rides connected Desert Hero astatine Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood.

But nan champion could yet travel connected Big Evs, nan pouch rocket trained by Mick Appleby. Marquand hopped connected him for nan first clip astatine Doncaster successful September and nan look of disbelief connected his look arsenic he discussed that capacity was nan aforesaid erstwhile he described Santa Anita.

‘You almost want to prime a spread successful a equine erstwhile you thrust them, to effort to find a fault,’ said Marquand.

‘But, to beryllium honest, you can’t. He looks awesome and he has taken nan recreation truthful well. He’s sewage a bully draw. He’ll person to beryllium very bully to triumph and he’ll person to beryllium fast. But he is fast.’

Rachael and Paul Teasdale, who ain Big Evs, were offered fortunes to waste successful nan summertime aft he had won nan Windsor Castle Stakes astatine Royal Ascot and followed up successful nan Molecomb Stakes astatine Glorious Goodwood. Sheik Mohammed was believed to person been fresh to salary much than £1million.

A waste was ne'er connected nan cards, though, arsenic Big Evs is named successful honour of a adjacent family friend of nan Teasdales who died past November.

To watch Big Evs complete nan past mates of mornings astatine Santa Anita has been to spot a equine successful nan zone. Marquand sewage nan limb up connected Wednesday; his accustomed activity rider Freddie Larson took complete yesterday erstwhile he had a stalls test.

As soon arsenic nan gates opened, he popped retired arsenic swiftly arsenic a champagne cork, breezed for 100 yards and past took a breath. Appleby, having his first runner successful nan United States, has made nary concealed that Big Evs will blaze distant — it will past beryllium up to nan remainder to drawback him if they can.

‘That is nan beautiful point astir his season,’ said Marquand. ‘For a squad for illustration Mick’s to unearth a due gem, past beryllium brave capable to bring him complete here. Everyone tin admit really good they person done.

‘You spot Aidan O’Brien’s drawstring and it puts it into perspective. They bring an service to spell to war. Most yards conscionable travel pinch one. To find a equine bully capable to compete, it’s a joy. Everyone is delighted to spot a gait for illustration this travel complete pinch a bully 1 that has a chance.

‘These are nan magical days. To beryllium present is awesome but if you are riding bully horses, you want to beryllium coming to places specified arsenic these.

‘And he is very good. The reality is that he will person to beryllium very bully again.’

If each goes well, past nan scenery astir Santa Anita mightiness not beryllium nan only point that is spectacular.