MICK APPLEBY is following a familiar routine as he prepares Big Evs to head to Del Mar in search of back-to-back Breeders’ Cup victories.

The son of Blue Point capped a fine juvenile season when scoring at the end-of-season championships at Santa Anita last November and California is calling once again for the Rutland handler and his star sprinter.

With sights firmly fixed on the Breeders’ Cup since his down-the-field finish in the Nunthorpe, Big Evs is reported to be in flying form as he steps up his preparations, with an away day to Southwell on the cards before he departs for the United States.