Big Evs did connections proud as he swept to success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

Mick Appleby’s colt broke well and ran prominently throughout, trailing Crimson Advocate around the bend having started as the favourite under Tom Marquand.

From there the duo pulled away to seal victory for the British in the first Grade One event of the meeting.

Beaten on his debut at Redcar in May, the son of Blue Point got off the mark in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot before adding the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood and the Flying Childers at Doncaster, with his only disappointing effort coming against older horses in the Nunthorpe.

While he was unable to take up his usual front-running position, Big Evs poured it on in the straight, with the Adrian Murray-trained Valiant Force trying to chase him down in the last of the five furlongs.

However, the Irish raider could not quite catch Big Evs, with the Frankie Dettori-ridden Starlust staying on late to take third place and complete a clean sweep of the places for the European challengers.

Marquand said: “It wasn’t quite the style he showed us at home, but he chugged along and he was learning with every stride round the bend.

“I knew Crimson Advocate was inside me and I thought she broke my heart at Ascot (when she beat Marquand’s mount Relief Rally by a nose in the Queen Mary) and she might do it again.

“It wasn’t the smoothest, but I always felt there were some gears left.”

Like Marquand, Appleby, who is based in Rutland, was securing his first Breeders’ Cup success and it was also a first victory at the highest level for the trainer.

He admitted he had his sights set on Breeders’ Cup glory following Big Evs’ Goodwood win at the beginning of August.

He said: “Everything went perfectly to plan and I still can’t believe it.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. When he came off the bend, he kicked again. It’s such a massive achievement for our small yard and the whole team.

“This was the aim since he won at Goodwood but I think he’ll have a break now.”

Owner Paul Teasdale was full of emotion following the victory of Big Evs, who is named after his late friend.

He explained: “My great friend Paul Evans died of lung cancer a year ago and his nickname was Big Evs.

“When I bought this horse in March, I was looking for something that could do well in memory of Paul and the rest is history.

“I wasn’t sure where our horse was early but when he came round the bend, I could see he still had plenty left.”