BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 3, 2023

Paul Teasdale

Michael Appleby

Tom Marquand

Santa Anita Park

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're going to go ahead and get started with Tom while we wait on the rest of the connections to get here. First of all, Tom, congratulations. Big Evs kicks us off with a win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. One for one for you. Take us through the ride because he broke like a rocket.

TOM MARQUAND: Yeah, I suppose that was his run style at home, and we were hoping -- English gate speed is different than American gate speed, and we were hoping it would be fast enough out here to get a good pitch.

I think he is tough as well. He had the speed today, but he did break half a length slower than a couple of them, but he hits up gear and he trucks along. I tell you, he was learning around the bends. It wasn't the smoothest, but yeah, he got the hang of it halfway around.

And it was home to the straight. To the perfectly honest, for as much confidence as you have that you are going to win, it was there. He just felt like there were two gears left to carry us all the way. Super performance.

THE MODERATOR: As we get the other connections here, we have the winning connections trainer, Michael Appleby, and owner Paul Teasdale. Congratulations. We've spoken with Tom. Michael, I'll get to you. Tom said he broke brilliantly today. When you trained to come over here to run around a bend for the first time, were there ever any concerns?

MICHAEL APPLEBY: Not really. I mean, a little bit of concern the way around the bend. We never have been around the bend before, so we galloped him a few times, and he did quite well with the lead length. There weren't any real concerns.

THE MODERATOR: Paul, a win on the world championship day with Big Evs. He has been such a success in Europe, but coming over here and taking on the fastest that everybody has to offer, what does that mean to you?

PAUL TEASDALE: It means everything. It's what we're all about. We came in knowing it was going to be a tough race and knowing we were racing against the best in the world. And we really wanted to do it. We have a little saying that we wanted to be brave and try with the best, and that's exactly what the guy on this horse is named after. That's exactly what he would have said. Now fantastic for him. Amazing horse and a great performance with Tom.

THE MODERATOR: I'll open it up to press for quick questions. When I give you.

Q. Can you talk about the man he is named for?

PAUL TEASDALE: Paul Evans. He was a personal friend of 40 years, and we went racing for 25 years together. Very, very close. Sadly, last year he died of lung cancer. It was a really short illness. From start to finish it was four months. It was a year ago on Wednesday when he died.

I bought the horse in March of this year, and didn't necessarily buy him to call him Big Evs. We need a name. We're going to enter a race. It just seemed to be a natural thing to call him Big Evs, and that was the guy's nickname. His name was Paul Evans, and his nickname was Big Evs.

We've done horses together, and we've gone racing a lot of times together. We really wanted it to be a great horse in memory of Paul to keep his name alive and for him and his family. He's certainly done that.

Q. Can you just talk us through the emotions that you all went through in the last furlong when it looked like he was getting in. Tom, you said he thought there were a few more gears left, but how did you two feel?

PAUL TEASDALE: I was struggling to see where he was. I knew we were sort of dropping second or third. I thought we were about second. I saw him come around the bend and thought he still has plenty left. I felt the race would be won coming out of the bend on the homestretch. Once he got into the front, I didn't really see anybody going back to him.

MICHAEL APPLEBY: Yeah, I mean, the race all went to plan. Jumped well. Got a lead. Coming off the bend, he kicked again.

Q. Has it started to sink in that (indiscernible)? There are trainers that have tried the last 20-plus years to even get a horse onto this stage --

MICHAEL APPLEBY: A small yard like this, I'm grateful for the whole team. They all deserve it because they worked all year.

PAUL TEASDALE: It's something we've wanted to do for a long time. It means a lot.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TOM MARQUAND: Look, I knew there was going to be a couple of swinging on late, but I wasn't overly worried.

To be honest, I came up around the bend, and obviously Crimson Advocate was the one on my inside. I thought, oh, she had broken my heart once at Ascot. I was just praying she wasn't going to keep going and be the one to beat us. Entered the straight and took the lead off her.

To be honest, I never had to worry. He idled a bit in front like he did at Doncaster. I knew he would do that, but it's a short straight. That kick was vital. He just said so.

I think just a great effort by the team. No stone was left unturned.