Big Evs, the sprinting sensation, returns to action on Thursday in York's British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes.
The Blue Point colt, trained by Mick Appleby, was an enormous success when he was two years old. He won the Molecomb at Goodwood and the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot before leaving the juvenile division to take a chance on the Knavesmire in the Nunthorpe Stakes.
He was deemed to have returned to the track too soon after his previous run, which cost him the race, but he recovered admirably in the Flying Childers and went on to trade successfully abroad after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
His final sighting on a racecourse was during that November outing at Santa Anita. This listed event marks the beginning of his three-year-old season, where he will either be the favourite or competing for the lead in the King Charles III Stakes (previously the King’s Stand) on the first day of Royal Ascot.
“He’s been very well, he’s wintered well and he’s in good order,” said Appleby. “All has been going well and we hope he’ll come out and win. It’s a nice place to start out, we’re just hopeful we don’t get too much more rain. All being well we’ll run him here and go to Royal Ascot, that’s the plan.”