Betfred Cesarewitch
Heritage Handicap, Newmarket 15:50 £250,000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 2
Saturday 11th October 2014

1 Big Easy 10-1
2 De Rigeur 25-1
3 Quick Jack 5-1F
4 Brass Ring 16-1
5 Digeanta 25-1
6 Nearly Caught 12/1
NR: Laughing Jack
33 ran Distances: ¾l, shd, 1l
TIME 3m 49.10s (slow by 4.10s)

Big Easy wins the Cesarewitch for Philip Hobbs under Tom Queally, bringing back great memories of Detroit City, who won the race for connections in 2006

Big Easy
© Racehorse Photos

Big Easy gave trainer Philip Hobbs and owner Terry Warner a second success in the Betfred Cesarewitch as he defied De Rigueur by three-quarters of a length at Newmarket.

Eight years ago, the connections - more associated with the National Hunt scene - celebrated a rare trip to the Rowley Mile thanks to Detroit City winning the second leg of the racecourse's 'autumn double'.

And they were cheering once again as the yellow and black silks made famous by Champion Hurdle hero Rooster Booster were carried to a 10-1 victory by jockey Tom Queally.

Big Easy improved on his runner-up effort in last month's Cesarewitch Trial with a high-quality staying performance, landing the lion's share of the £250,000 prize fund.

He was always towards the fore and was strongest through the closing strides of the two-and-a-quarter-mile stamina test, repelling De Rigueur and the 5-1 favourite Quick Jack, who had been going like a winner entering the final stages.

Somerset trainer Hobbs was at Chepstow to saddle six runners, so it was his wife Sarah who had travelled with Big Easy.

She said: "When Tom rode him three weeks ago, he got off and said 'I'll win next time'.

"His eyes were popping out. He said, 'the horse is a machine, if the ground isn't too dry he's made for the Cesarewitch'. So he has always been pretty confident.

"Today, the horse had a great draw and the inside rail. He got a bit blocked two furlongs out, but Tom just pulled him out two wide and he opened up. He said it was easy. This horse wasn't very expensive but he has done us proud."

Warner was thrilled following a second victory in the race, but believes there are few similarities between Big Easy and Detroit City.

He said: "It's totally different. The other was a good horse on the Flat when we bought him. We bought this horse for jumping and he has won a couple of three-mile hurdles for us and he'll go back to hurdling.

"We came here for the Trial and nearly won, so we thought we had to come back today. But you always worry with 33 runners and I was amazed he was such a short price. To have won it twice is unbelievable - it's fantastic."

Betfred Cesarewitch (Heritage Handicap)
£250,000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 2
33 ran
Going: Good