Little Bear delivered a devastating performance to help coach Aidan O’Brien win his 17th race in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) match at Curragh August 6.
The son of No, never A clear rise under Ryan Moore scored seven points to score a fourth straight win, earning himself 5-1 for the Qipco Two Thousand Guineas (G1) the following year with Paddy Power and Betfair.
Little Big Bear was a well-supported winner in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot before stepping up to success with a win at Curragh last month in Jebel Ali Racecourse and Anglesey Barn (G3).
However, it was the first test of the 13-8 shot in the top-tier company, and he beat his rivals in what is considered the hottest junior race. of the season so far.
“That’s impressive!”
An absolutely breathtaking performance from Little Big Bear in @keeneland Phoenix Shares @curraghrace – with Bradsell only fourth@coolmorestud | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/43xQdmXjqJ
– Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 6, 2022
Persian Forces who won group 2 at Newmarket last time, was the best of the rest, with Johnny Murtagh’s Shartash in part three.
Bradsell and Hollie Doyle, Coventry Stakes (G2) winner at Ascot, never looked comfortable in the race after missing the break and finishing fourth.
Little Big Bear is short 4-1 with Bet365 for the 2023 Two Thousand Guineas, though O’Brien admits a host of potential skirmishes could await the exciting pony.
“He looks like a very special horse,” the winning coach told Racing TV. “We always thought he was something different. He was big, quick, strong and uncomplicated.
“It was a very good race. The best 2-year-olds were there. Ryan (Moore) raved about him, and there weren’t too many horses that Ryan praised.”
O’Brien, who pulled Black beard of the €300,000 early Saturday morning sprint for similar connections, said: “Little Big Bear has a lot of options. The boys can decide what they want to do.
“He can go to Prix Morny (G1), Nunthorpe (G1), I don’t think he lacks speed in any way, and he is strong and mature.
“He could go to Middle Park (G1) or Dewhurst (G1). He’ll have a week or ten days doing very little. You wouldn’t imagine seven (furlongs) would be any problem.”
This is the second time Moore has teamed up with an O’Brien horse to win Phoenix after Sioux Country won in 2017.
The driver said: “He couldn’t be more impressive than he has been. Today he did everything as great as he did at Anglesey last time.
“The horses that come in here look like they’re in good shape from the books — the Coventry winner, the July Bet winner and Johnny’s (Murtagh) horse who won here. It looks like a pony.” strong race, but he’s just on another level.”
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