Big Mojo can land a July Cup shock at Newmarket

Big Mojo can secure a shock victory in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes (4.35pm) at Newmarket this afternoon.

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Mick Appleby’s three-year-old son oof can land the Group One feature on the final day of the July meeting as it’s ‘Cup’ down up and down the country.

With no real star in the six-furlong sprint division emerging out of the older generation and with the onetwo - French star Lazzat and Japanese raider Satano Reve - from the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Stakes at last month’s Royal Ascot not lining up on the July course, the three-year-olds may hold sway. Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket and the Charlie Appleby-trained Godolphin second string Symbol Of Honour both having big chances of victory but a chance is taken on Big Mojo landing a first Group One victory and causing something of a shock after some encouraging efforts so far this season.

The son of Mohaather won the Group Three Molecombe Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last year, showing plenty of speed to land the fivefurlong contest. He was then second in the Group Two Flying Childers at York before coming home fourth, beaten just over a length in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar last November.

Big Mojo stepped up to six furlongs on his seasonal return, winning at Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup Trial at the end of April. And he was then fourth behind the reopposing Symbol Of Honour at Haydock Park in May in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes. He was a shade unlucky that day at Haydock, having been denied a clear run two furlongs from home on Merseyside.

It was a similar case at Royal Ascot when he had nowhere to go behind a wall of horses when seventh in the Commonwealth Cup. The hope is that if he can be nearer the pace - he did show speed when winning as a two-year-old - and get a clear passage he can take advantage of his weight-for-age allowance against his elders like Godophin’s Notable Speech and QEII third Flora Of Bermuda and finally score at the top level.