By Sean Cronin
The RP Racing-Michael Appleby axis annexed last year's edition of Goodwood's G3 Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes, with GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), and connections struck again as the maiden Big Mojo (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}–Jm Jackson {Ire}, by No Nay Never) edged a three-way thriller in this year's renewal of the five-furlong dash.
The 175,000gns Tattersalls December foal, who posted a debut second going five furlongs at Beverley earlier in the month, raced off the tempo in rear through the early stages. Making a smooth transition into contention once past halfway, the 25-1 outsider came under pressure to launch his bid entering the final furlong and kept on in resolute fashion to prevail by 3/4-of-a-length and a head from Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and stablemate Mr Lightside (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}), becoming the second black-type winner for his freshman sire (by Showcasing {GB}).
“I couldn't split Big Mojo and Mr Lightside, I worked them together on Saturday and couldn't pick between them,” Appleby explained. “They are both very good and wouldn't be far behind Big Evs either as two-year-olds. They could both go to America for the Breeders' Cup, but Big Mojo will go to the [G2] Gimcrack first. The owner [Paul Teasdale] wants his wife to do the speech as the winning owner at the Gimcrack dinner and, to be fair, this was our main target with him. It's good to get some good two-year-olds because we can't train them apparently.”
In the aftermath of collecting a 17th Glorious Goodwood win, Silvestre De Sousa added, “Big Mojo is an exciting horse. he's improved a lot since his last run in a maiden and it was a nice way to break his maiden in a Group 3. He has a lot of speed, I'd like him over six furlongs as well and he is only going to improve. I think he is a quality horse going forward. He is strong physically, but his mind is not there yet.”
Teasdale revealed part of the winner's backstory and said, “We bought him just after the Breeders' Cup last year and wanted to call him Mojo, but we couldn't so we called him Big Mojo. We went to Beverley first time out and he was a little green, but he ran really well and then we've seen such an improvement. We were going to run in the maiden yesterday, but we said to Mick put him in the Molecomb and we'll see if he's good enough. It's only his second race, but we're in racing to win, so that's what we are going to do. We are not in this to buy horses and sell them. We bought four two-year-olds at the end of last year and three of them are fantastically talented. The fourth we haven't really tried yet. Big Mojo is bred for six furlongs, so the Gimcrack Stakes will be the perfect race for him. We attended the Gimcrack dinner last year and have had a long-standing joke that I would like my wife [Rachael] to do the speech.”
Archie Watson was not too downhearted reflecting on the runner-up finish of Aesterius. “You can't be unhappy,” the trainer said. “He's just raced away from the winner a bit and these things happen in these big fields. He didn't really get to race against the winner there, but he's run a huge race and got his head down on the line to win the photo for second. He's very exciting, he's very professional and he's growing up race to race. Five furlongs I think is his trip and we'd love to finish off the year in Del Mar [for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint], if he can get there. I think that sort of race, a quick turning five on quick ground would suit him. Soldier's Call went from the [G3] Prix d'Arenberg on to the [G2] Flying Childers, and I would imagine we will do something along those lines as long as we are happy. So it will probably be Chantilly next.”
Appleby strikes AGAIN 👊👊@MickApplebyUK won the Molecamb Stakes with Big Evs 12 months ago and he's gone and repeated the trick with 25-1 chance Big Mojo! 🔴🔵@Qatar_Racing | @Goodwood_Races pic.twitter.com/pdiARNTdhD
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 31, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Big Mojo, whose 2023 Bungle Inthejungle (GB) half-sister died last year, is the lone representative for Listed National Stakes second Jm Jackson (Ire) (No Nay Never), herself a full-sister to Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux victrix Singforthemoment (Ire). The April-foaled bay's second dam Kawn (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) is a half-sister to G1 Lockinge Stakes and G2 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) runner-up and multiple Group-winning sire Trans Island (GB) (Selkirk), G3 Premio Sergio Cumani victrix Welsh Diva (GB) (Selkirk) and G3 Meld Stakes third Creekside (GB) (Dubai Destination).
Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
JAEGER-LECOULTRE MOLECOMB STAKES-G3, £100,000, Goodwood, 7-31, 2yo, 5fT, :56.13, g/f.
1–BIG MOJO (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Mohaather (GB)
1st Dam: Jm Jackson (Ire) (SP-Eng), by No Nay Never
2nd Dam: Kawn (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
3rd Dam: Khubza (GB), by Green Desert
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (175,000gns Ylg '23 TADEY). O-RP Racing Ltd; B-Ringfort Stud Ltd & The Ladies (IRE); T-Michael Appleby; J-Silvestre De Sousa. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $75,062. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Aesterius (Ire), 129, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Jane Doe (Ire), by Hallowed Crown (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (52,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; 60,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT; £380,000 2yo '24 GOUKB). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Sean Maguire (IRE); T-Archie Watson. £21,500.
3–Mr Lightside (Ire), 129, c, 2, Earthlight (Ire)–L' Explora, by War Front. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£45,000 2yo '24 GOUKB). O-Fosnic Racing; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Michael Appleby. £10,760.
Margins: 3/4, HD, 1 1/4. Odds: 25.00, 2.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Celandine (GB), Usdi Atohi (Ire), King's Call (Ire), Amestris (GB), Soldier's Heart (GB), Vingegaard (Ire), Francisco's Piece (GB), Fuji Mountain (Ire), Sands Of Marra (Ire), Binadham (Ire), The Man (Ire), Arran (Ire). Scratched: Rock N Roll Rocket (Ire).
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