Big Mojo Back in Style to Annex Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup Trial

[Wandering Eyes]

Making a welcome return to action having undergone a wind prodecure in February, RP Racing's G3 Molecomb Stakes victor Big Mojo (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}) allayed any concerns regarding his wellbeing with a rousing half-length victory in Wednesday's G3 eventmasters.co.uk Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot.

The Mick Appleby trainee, starting at odds of 4-1, was under a firm hold from the outset and occupied a position in mid division through halfway in the six-furlong dash. Easing closer inside the final quarter-mile, he joined the front rank of four on the far side passing the furlong pole and was driven out to assert superiority in determined fashion.

Big Mojo followed up his Molecomb triumph with a fourth in York's G2 Gimcrack Stakes and a narrow second in Doncaster's G2 Flying Childers Stakes. He concluded his five-race juvenile programme with a fourth, finishing just over one length behind the winner Magnum Force, in November's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar when last seen on the track.

Despite registering a first success in his second start at the six-furlong trip, Appleby is inclined to target the five-furlong G1 King Charles III Stakes, previously known as the King's Stand, rather than the Commonwealth Cup, come June. “The King Charles [III Stakes] would be more the likely route we'd go down, I would think, but he is in both races,” the trainer explained. “It's always a concern when you've got a decent two-year-old, whether they've trained on or not, but at home he looked like he had. He's been working really well against some of the older horses and I'm really delighted with him.”

Winning rider Tom Marquand added, “He's a very good horse, he showed that last year, and I think it's just changed him a little bit as a type as well. The second I even went to think about going this lad was up and away, which is something he didn't do last year in quite the same manner. I thought that was a good performance, he's done well to go and win and I feel, on a track like Ascot where you're going to get tempo, he could be lethal here. He doesn't lack early speed or the ability to travel over five. On the right track I still think six furlongs is correct for him, but Ascot being Ascot, it is definitely a strong possibility [dropping back to five furlongs].”

Big Mojo, whose 2023 Bungle Inthejungle (GB) half-sister did not survive, 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). This is the family of multiple Group-winning sire College Chapel (GB) (Sharpo {GB}) and multiple Group 1-winning three-time New Zealand champion King's Chapel (Aus) (King Of Kings {Ire}).

 

“Big Mojo is BACK!” @MickApplebyUK's charge strikes in the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes under @TomMarquand at @Ascot… pic.twitter.com/qgXtPD41nN

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 30, 2025

 

Wednesday, Ascot, Britain
EVENTMASTERS.CO.UK COMMONWEALTH CUP TRIAL STAKES (PAVILION STAKES)-G3, £80,000, Ascot, 4-30, 3yo, 6fT, 1:12.50, g/f.
1–BIG MOJO (IRE), 129, c, 3, 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
(175,000gns Ylg '23 TADEY). O-RP Racing Ltd; B-Ringfort Stud Ltd & The Ladies (IRE); T-Michael Appleby; J-Tom Marquand. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-0, $238,847. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Diablo Rojo (Ire), 129, c, 3, Pinatubo (Ire)–Boston Rocker (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (325,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-J Hanly, A Stroud & Skymarc Farm (IRE); T-Raphael Freire. £17,200.
3–Ain't Nobody (Ire), 129, c, 3, Sands Of Mali (Fr)–Burmese Waltz (GB), by Showcasing (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£30,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-J Blackburn & J Matthews; B-Ballyhane (Rathbride) Umlimited (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £8,608.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 9.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Brian (Ire), Arabie (GB), Candy (GB), Hallasan (GB), Dash Dizzy (Ire), Rebel's Gamble (Ire), Electrolyte (Ire).

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