Little Big Bear flagged up his credentials for superstar status after pulverising his rivals in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in the hands of Ryan Moore on Saturday.
The colt, not surprisingly, now heads the betting at 5-1 for next season’s 2,000 Guineas, after coming home by an effortless seven lengths from Persian Force, with Shartash in third place. The Hollie Doyle-ridden Bradsell, sent off the 13-8 favourite, finished fourth after ruining his chances by stumbling at the start.
Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien, recording a staggering 17 th success in the Group One race, said: “He looks a very special horse. It was a very good race, but he has serious class. From day one we thought he was a bit special.
“Ryan was very complimentary about him and there's not too many horses Ryan is complimentary of!" O’Brien is undecided where the colt will head next but wherever he runs his rivals will no doubt be quaking in their boots.
Earlier on the card, O’Brien’s son, Joseph, trained his 1,000th winner after having only held a licence for six years, when Al Riffa took the opening event.
At Ascot, Great Britain and Ireland took the Shergar Cup. For good measure, Neil Callan, part of the winning team that included Jamie Spencer, Danny Tudhope and Kieran Shoemark, was the most successful rider, earning him the Silver Saddle trophy.
The team dominated the meeting by winning five of the eight races. The other three races were won by the Ladies, which included Joanna Mason, Hayley Turner Emma-Jayne Wilson all riding winners. Nicola Currie helped the Ladies score by finishing second.
Gamble responsibly
Everyone at Reach is committed to promoting safer gambling. All of our content and recommended bets are advised to those aged 18 or over.
We strongly encourage our readers to only ever bet what they can afford to lose. For more information, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit begambleaware.org.
