Little Big Bear backed up his Royal Ascot victory in style when an impressive winner of the Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
It's a quick fire double for the pair of Aidan O'Brian and Ryan Moore as Little Big Bear takes the the Group 3 Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes in easy fashion. ??@Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/ovQ7Z90HZn
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 16, 2022
Always to the fore in the hands of big-race pilot Ryan Moore, the son of No Nay Never made light work of this return to six furlongs, showing a blistering turn of foot to scorch clear of the pack and register a four-and-three-quarter-length triumph.
It was the two-year-old’s first win at group level and third straight victory, with his sole defeat coming on debut. Attentions now turn to what the talented colt could do next, with O’Brien stating Moore believes seven furlongs is well within range for the strapping youngster.
“We’re delighted with him. He’s always shown a lot, he came here the first day and then improved lovely to win the next day,” said O’Brien.
“Obviously we were delighted with him in Ascot and he was lovely here today, Ryan was very happy with him.
“He’s a lovely, smooth traveller, he’s very uncomplicated. He’s very happy to make the running and very happy to sit in.
“Ryan said he couldn’t believe how easily he was going down past the two today. He said when he asked him, the response was very quick. You’d have to be very happy with him.
“Even though he’s big, he’s very strong and mature, he’s powerful.
“We’ve always liked him a lot and from day one he was always showing plenty.
“Interestingly Ryan said today that he could be a Dewhurst horse or a National Stakes horse. Obviously he’s running through the line when he’s saying that. That’s a good sign.”
When asked if he sees him as a Guineas horse, O’Brien added: “You’d have to, definitely at the moment. When they feel like they are going to get seven at two, they usually get a mile at three.
“He could obviously come back here for the Phoenix Stakes, that would be the plan and that’s what we were thinking coming here today. Hopefully if everything is well that’s what we’d love to do
Smart juvenile
O’Brien was also on the scoresheet in the Juddmonte Farms Expert Eye Irish EBF for the sixth time in 10 years when Hans Andersen ran out a decisive winner in the opener.
?? Named after the Danish author Hans Andersen, this 450,000gns son of Frankel powers to victory at the second time of asking for @Ballydoyle & Ryan Moore in the opener on Juddmonte Irish Oaks day at the @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/LlMP8CINEo
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 16, 2022
An eyecatching second on debut at Tipperary, the smartly-bred son of Frankel thrived for encountering good ground for the first time, the 450,000 guineas buy making all to score by almost two lengths from the fast-finishing Al Riffa.
“We’re delighted with him, he had a lovely run the first day and he learned plenty,” said O’Brien.
“He won well. He was a little bit green turning in in Tipperary and came forward lovely.
“He should have no problem stepping into stakes company now. He should have no problem going further but there is no rush to step him up.
“He could come back here for the Futurity or something like that.”
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