Little Big Bear bags impressive Anglesey victory

Ascot winner follows up in Curragh Group Three.

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.

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.

Juddmonte Irish Oaks Festival – Saturday July 16th
Trainer Aiden O’Brien speaks to Ryan Moore after winning the Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes with Little Big Bear at Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)

“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

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.

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.

The winner was introduced at 20-1 with Coral for the Qipco 2000 Guineas, and 25-1 for the Cazoo Derby.

Hans Andersen impressed in the opener
Hans Andersen impressed in the opener (Brian Lawless/PA)

“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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