Big Mojo

The career numbers tell an interesting story. Big Mojo wins roughly 1 in every 5 races overall (21%), but zoom in on the top-level races and that climbs to 3 wins from 10 outings at Class 1 — closer to 1 in 3. That's a horse that tends to raise its game when it matters most, which is exactly the kind of stat that gets people paying attention. Add six places in 14 career races and you have an animal that is nearly always in the conversation, even when it doesn't win.

Dry ground seems to suit Big Mojo particularly well. On fast, dry conditions it has won 2 from 6 races — a 33% win rate, which is exceptional at this level. That's a useful thing to know if you're watching for when this horse might be at its very best.

The recent form does give some pause. After winning at Haydock last September, the last four outings have produced finishes of 10th, 10th, 7th, and 8th — none of them close. It raced just yesterday, so the yard are clearly keeping the horse active, but that sequence suggests it has had a quieter patch since its last big day. Horses go through form dips; the question is whether the engine that won three top-level races is still there waiting.

Trainer Michael Appleby, based in Oakham in Rutland, has had a productive season — 71 winners sent out this year from his yard, which speaks to a well-run operation that knows how to get horses ready to perform. Regular jockey Tom Marquand has partnered Big Mojo in 5 of its 14 races, winning once together. At its best, on a quick summer track, in a top race, Big Mojo has shown it belongs among the finest. Whether that form returns is the story worth watching.