Horse Profile: Big Mojo

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Scouting Report

(Editor's note: Originally published in the 2024 BRISnet Breeders' Cup International Report)

Trained by Mick Appleby for RP Racing, Big Mojo aims to give his connections a repeat win in this race, following stablemate Big Evs (Turf Sprint). Big Mojo has emulated him in one respect already, by winning the Molecomb (G3) at Glorious Goodwood in a tight finish. But he’s not a front-running speed merchant like Big Evs. 

From the first crop of top-class miler Mohaather, Big Mojo sold for more than $231,000 as a Tattersalls December yearling. His dam, the No Nay Never mare Jm Jackson, was stakes-placed sprinting five furlongs at two.

Big Mojo wasn’t ready to debut quite as early as Big Evs, so he didn’t turn up at Royal Ascot. Unveiled July 6 at Beverley, he looked a little lost once in front and got mowed down.

As a result, Big Mojo was completely overlooked at 25-1 next time in the Molecomb. But he took a giant leap forward to rally from well back, and topple favored Aesterius, in juvenile course-record time of :56.13. 

Owner Paul Teasdale opted to stretch him out to six furlongs in the Gimcrack (G2), quipping that he wanted his wife, Rachael, to deliver the traditional Gimcrack winner’s speech. Big Mojo ran well most of the way, before he was outstayed and checked in fourth behind Cool Hoof Luke. 

A few major winners have emerged from among those beaten in the Gimcrack. Runner-up Shadow of Light advanced to turn a rare Middle Park (G1)/Dewhurst (G1) double; third-placer Symbol of Strength won the Sirenia (G3) and got sold off to Hong Kong; and Camille Pissarro, sixth as the favorite, eventually upset the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) on Arc Day. 

Big Mojo reverted to five furlongs for the Flying Childers (G2) at Doncaster. Unlike Big Evs, who won handsomely in his final stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup, Big Mojo just failed versus familiar foe Aesterius.

Appleby thought that the ground might have been a tad softer than Big Mojo wants, and he also wondered if the colt needs to be delivered a bit later. In any event, there’s plainly not much between Big Mojo and Aesterius. 

Big Mojo was another high-profile horse to head to Southwell for his key work, and Appleby was delighted with how he zipped around the turn and changed leads promptly. Jockey Tom Marquand described it colorfully by saying that Big Mojo “went round like a motorbike.”