Tag: Little Big Bear (Ire)

No Nay Never’s Little Big Bear Rattles Home An Easy Winner Of The Sandy Lane

Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Westerberg's Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never–Adventure Seeker {Fr}, by Bering {GB}) overraced and encountered a rough journey when well back in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at the beginning of the month, but on livelier ground over Haydock's straight course, the even-money favourite ran out an open-length winner of the one-mile G2 Betfred Nifty Fifty Sandy Lane S. on Saturday.

Always forwardly placed against the fence as last year's G2 Coventry S. hero and G3 Commonwealth Cup Trial S. third Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) set the pace, the 2022 G1 Phoenix S. hero took over at the furlong grounds and surged away to a visually pleasing 1 1/4-length victory. Multiple listed winner Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) closed with promise to take second and Bradsell reported home third, eight lengths back.

Deputising for Ryan Moore who won the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas aboard Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) at the Curragh later in the day, Frankie Dettori was picking up his second win on the card, after guiding Covey (GB) (Frankel (GB)}) to victory in the Betfred Silver Bowl H. one race prior. It was the first victory at Haydock for Aidan O'Brien.

“In fairness, they booked me about 10 days ago,” said the Italian, who is retiring at the end of the year. “I thought I could have been in Ireland for the Guineas but things didn't materialise, so I was straight on the phone to say that I'd go to Haydock.

“He was the champion 2-year-old last year and the 2000 Guineas proved too far for him, but he won in good style today. He quickened up well for hands and heels and it's a big boost for the Commonwealth [Cup at Royal Ascot in June].

“I'll be honest, I eased up in the last few yards as the job was done, that was a good performance ahead of next month. He's got big figures in the book and he's come back to his best today–he'll be a big favourite.

“I don't think Ryan [Moore] is going to give me this one [ride]! I was very pleased to ride him today and wish him all the best.”

Before his Guineas hiccup, Little Big Bear was named a Rising Star at second asking at Naas last May, and sped to successive victories in the Listed Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot, the Curragh's G3 Anglesey S., and the G1 Phoenix S., prior to being shelved for the rest of the campaign due to a setback.

Pedigree Notes

Coolmore Stud's No Nay Never has 49 stakes winners (28 group) to his credit. Little Big Bear is one of seven Group 1 winners. Little Big Bear shares damsire Bering with star stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), and the duo belong to a 73-strong clutch of stakes winners.

The stakes-winning Adventure Seeker was second in the G3 Prix Cleopatre, and hit black-type pay dirt with her first foal, Andrea Mantegna (Giant's Causeway), who ran second in the G3 Hobart Cup in Australia. The Sandy Lane winner is her seventh, and she has colts by No Nay Never born in 2021 and 2022 still to come. Third dam All Along (Fr) (Targowice) was a champion in both the U.S. and France, and won the 1983 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFRED NIFTY FIFTY SANDY LANE S.-G2, £125,000, Haydock, 5-27, 3yo, 6fT, 1:11.39, g/f.
1–LITTLE BIG BEAR (IRE), 128, c, 3, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Adventure Seeker (Fr) (SW & GSP-Fr, $155,312), by Bering (GB)
2nd Dam: American Adventure, by Miswaki
3rd Dam: All Along (Fr), by Targowice
TDN Rising Star. (€320,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Camas Park Stud & Summerhill (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £70,888. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 7-5-1-0, $385,136. *1/2 to Andrea Mantegna (Giant's Causeway), GSP-Aus, $352,585. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shouldvebeenaring (GB), 128, c, 3, Havana Grey (GB)–Lady Estella (Ire), by Equiano (Fr). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£40,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Middleham Park Racing XVIII; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £26,875.
3–Bradsell (GB), 128, c, 3, Tasleet (GB)–Russian Punch (GB), by Archipenko. (12,000gns Ylg '21 TATSOM; £47,000 2yo '22 GOFTY). O-Victorious Racing; B-Mrs D O'Brien (GB); T-Archie Watson. £13,450.
Margins: 1 1/4, 8, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 11.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Matilda Picotte (Ire), Cold Case (GB), Mill Stream (Ire), The Ridler (GB). Scratched: Al Dasim (Ire).

 

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Can Royal Scotsman Deliver in the Irish Guineas?

There was a time around three decades ago when Paul Cole's name was synonymous with the turf's leading lights left, right and centre around Europe. Over 30 years on from his last win in any of the British, Irish or French Classics, the Whatcombe Estate frontiersman who now runs his stable along with son Oliver has found one again. Not since the heady days of Generous (Ire) and co has the Berkshire stable been as electrified as it is at present thanks to Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and it is with great expectations and some jitters that they await the reckoning of Jim and Fitri Hays' flag-bearer  in Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh.

What is beyond doubt is that Royal Scotsman is a class act, with his close second to Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Dewhurst S. possibly even better form than his third in the 2000 Guineas itself, with the Newmarket Classic's cutting edge blunted by nagging heavy rain. When the sun burned and the turf rode slick at the Goodwood Festival in July, he was able to take apart the six-furlong G2 Richmond S. with pace that will be lethal if he can carry it this far.

Strongly-supported by the hard hitters on Friday, Royal Scotsman will most likely head to post the favourite and Oliver Cole is abuzz with the cross-sea travelling having gone to plan. “He's in great form, he left for Ireland on Thursday night and arrived Friday morning and has eaten up, so we couldn't be happier with him,” he said. “To do what he did at Newmarket, to be keen and pull for four furlongs and then finish shows he's pretty good. He broke the track record in the Richmond at Goodwood and he was in the second-fastest ever Dewhurst–his sectionals were amazing after the first furlong. He is a very, very good horse, everything just needs to go right for him.”

A Classic Conundrum...
While it is too early to say, the 2000 Guineas looks far from vintage at this stage and this version follows the same narrative on paper at least. Newmarket's Classic was stacked even more than usual with fast colts, who bar Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) seemed the most exciting of those lining up but so many hopes were ultimately dashed as the ground deepened and stretched staying power all around. While the Irish 2000 is set to take place on far livelier terrain, those who helped light up the Classic three weeks ago are already firmly on the road to the Commonwealth Cup.

So what are we left with? TDN Rising Star Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) exceeded all expectations to be an errant second, one of a long line of rank outsiders to make the frame in the Guineas, but it is impossible to tell how he will back up here. Royal Scotsman may have been third after over-racing, but he far from convinced with how well he ultimately saw out the mile.

The O'Brien Factor…
Six of the last 10 winners of this hadn't been to Newmarket, which of course brings in the Aidan O'Brien contingent (is there ever a time when they could be safely counted out?) and in particular the Listed Tetrarch S.-winning TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) with all his upside. While he will have his many supporters, it is perhaps Donnacha who has charge of the colt with all the boxes ticked. Step forward Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who went the Mac Swiney route of Leopardstown's G3 Derby Trial only to fall short against Jessie Harrington's genuine Derby contender Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).

Proud And Regal won on debut here in June, went too fast early in the Futurity on his second visit and already needed further than seven furlongs when denied in the Vincent O'Brien National S. tackling the Kildare venue for the third time. His one try at a mile yielded a Criterium International, but the heavy ground there would have been against the chestnut son of Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill) so his defeat of Ballydoyle's classy Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could even be upgraded.

In The Fast Lane…
A Classic is a Classic, but few would forgive those who are placing Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane S. over the Curragh feature on Saturday, such is the pull of the 3-year-old sprinting generation this year. As mentioned above, the Guineas boasted the likes of Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) and while the former has since disappointed, the latter is very much alive and kicking in the category. This is a case of clean slate for the brilliant juvenile of 2022, who has everything in his favour and defeat here will not be enough to stop the worries that he is not the force he was. Physically, the beast who took apart the Phoenix assembly including the beleaguered fellow TDN Rising Star Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) must be at least as good this year and with the calendar stacked against Ryan Moore, it is Frankie who gets to push the buttons for possibly the only time. Lucky man.

What Now For Bradsell?
We see it every year. A wide-margin, dynamic Spring success for a juvenile blessed with “early”, possibly a Royal Ascot sprint wrapped up while that precocity still dominates and then a slow slide into the wilderness. For Bradsell, the latter scenario has thankfully not played out with injury stopping him after his unlucky experience in the Phoenix and a highly respectable comeback effort in Ascot's G3 Pavilion S. last month. While the re-opposing winner Cold Case (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) had his measure that day, Victorious Racing's Coventry hero is on a sounder surface here and Archie Watson has him in a good place. “He travelled very well at Ascot and got a bit tired late, which was to be expected,” he said. “I hope he can take a good step forwards fitness-wise from there. It looks a very strong trial for the Commonwealth Cup. I'd say whatever wins will be the one to beat at Ascot, so at least we'll all know after the weekend.”

Back In Her Comfort Zone?
One of the big performances of the two Guineas at Newmarket was that of Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the 1000 as she effectively “won” the race behind Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) despite having appeared to have gone off too quickly. Having been third in the Lowther when possibly York's fast six furlongs proved too slick, she made all in Newmarket's Listed Bosra Sham Fillies' S. as the ground eased in the autumn so it is a question of whether it will all be happening too quickly again here. “Her Guineas run puts her in the picture and we should be bang there,” trainer Kieran Cotter said. “In an ideal situation we would have liked a bit of rain, but she handled quick ground when she ran at York in the Lowther and she is pretty versatile.”

Fields Of Stars…
Saturday's cluttered action across Britain and Ireland requires a whistle-stop preview and much analysis after with Royal Ascot particularly in mind. The Curragh's card sees the TDN Rising Stars Noche Magica (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never) go the “Blackbeard route” to Berkshire, while the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp heroine The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) makes her debut for Katsumi Yoshida and Roger Varian in Haydock's G2 Temple S. White Birch Farm's unbeaten Prince of Wales's S. and Eclipse entry Francesco Clemente (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) faces his first black-type test in Goodwood's Listed Festival S., while York's G3 Bronte Cup plays host to George Strawbridge's G2 Park Hill S.-winning 4-year-old Mimikyu (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Her sister Journey (GB) really got going at that age, so its still all to play for the quirky but talented representative of the Gosdens.

Tahiyra Heads Sunday Delights…
Dermot Weld would have been heartened by the inside draw handed to Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh as The Aga Khan's TDN Rising Star was the key member of the 10-strong cast confirmed on Friday. Also set to be represented by live contender Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal), the Rosewell House handler has booked Billy Lee for that G3 Cornelscourt S. runner-up. Aidan O'Brien's trio is headed by Tahiyra's old rival Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is alongside the likely favourite in two and set for a Moyglare rematch on the faster ground she relishes so that scores can finally be settled. A thrilling G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup was confirmed, with Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) good to go in the first big older horse encounter of the European season.

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Chaldean Gives Frankel His Guineas Winner On Frankie Finale

Persistent rain in the lead-up to Saturday's G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas turned the ground to soft at Newmarket and while several of the race's big names floundered, Juddmonte's ultra-professional Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Suelita {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) stayed straight and true to win with authority. Providing Frankie Dettori with the ultimate final ride in the mile Classic, the Andrew Balding-trained 7-2 second favourite tracked TDN Rising Star Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) up the centre and as that 125-1 shot began to veer left heading into the dip and duly took control.

Forging clear up the rising ground, the G3 Acomb S., G2 Champagne S. and G1 Dewhurst S. hero who had dramatically unseated Dettori at the start of the G3 Greenham S. a fortnight earlier, hit the line strong with 1 3/4 lengths to spare over the Kevin Ryan-trained outsider. Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) was half a length away in third as the 13-8 favourite Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) beat only two rivals home and one of those was the last-placed Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never).

“I can't believe it's happened really–it's mad and I have mixed emotions, I don't know whether to laugh or cry,” Dettori said. “My last Guineas, to win it in front of my home crowd, it's amazing and beyond my wildest dreams.”

Other than when he was beaten on his debut at two and when finishing riderless on this year's introduction, Chaldean has proven as reliable as he is classy and with the benefit of hindsight it is difficult to believe that he started as only the second favourite in a three-runner Champagne in September. Even in the Dewhurst, the chestnut was only joint-favourite alongside the operation's other runner Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) so being under-rated is a thing that has come with the territory.

With the four preceding races on the straight course giving no indication of any bias, there were no excuses on that score for any of the beaten runners and it was more likely ground conditions that contributed to the downfall of the other favourites. The free-running Little Big Bear did little for his prospects with understandable freshness and while Hi Royal and Oisin Murphy and Chaldean enjoyed the run of the race up front Auguste Rodin, Royal Scotsman and Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) were probably too far adrift by halfway.

From the two pole, each time Frankie got alongside Hi Royal the imposing Ryan runner ducked left and that left Chaldean in the clear and home free. As he stayed on strongly to the line, the race's dubious stayers were only treading water in behind with Auguste Rodin disappointingly disappearing out of sight. In the final analysis, it may be that the winner was the only true top-class miler to act in the ground and so it was a surprise to hear that Andrew Balding had stamina doubts.

“I was a bit worried about the mile in this ground, but what a brilliant ride from Frankie,” the master of Kingsclere said after greeting his second 2000 Guineas winner in four years. “What can't you say about Frankie? Since I've been involved in the sport he's been an omnipresent superstar of the sport and what a fitting way to ride his last 2000 Guineas. He always looked to be travelling comfortably, I was just a bit worried about getting past Oisin because he can get extra lengths out of a horse. It's a mixture of relief and elation, it's a big deal. He might stay 10 furlongs in time, but no further.”

Hi Royal, who was the least-exposed and most under-the-radar TDN Rising Star in the line-up, would have made more of a fight of it had he stayed straight as he channelled the positive energy of his dam Majestic Roi (Street Cry {Ire}) who sprang a 16-1 upset in the 2007 G1 Sun Chariot S. over this course and distance. Jaber Abdullah's racing manager Bruce Raymond said, “That was no surprise, as Kevin Ryan told us in the paddock that he thought the horse could run a big race and that he thought he would handle the ground. Kevin wants to get him home and see where we go next but he could be a Royal Ascot type.”

Oliver Cole is also keen to go to the G1 St James's Palace S. and take on the winner and runner-up with Royal Scotsman. “He's run a massive race to be third, but he was a bit too keen in the early stages,” he said. “He had no problem with the ground, as he goes on anything. It was always the idea to come straight here and hopefully he can improve from this and we can have another crack at the winner at Royal Ascot.”

Aidan O'Brien said of his pair, “It was a non-event for Ryan's horse and then Wayne's horse got badly bumped and just got lit up. The whole thing was a bit of a non-event really. The travelling over is what it is.”

Lordan added of Little Big Bear, “He jumped smart and felt like he wanted to show me his pace. We didn't go mad for the first two furlongs, something caught my heel and it wasn't ideal.”

Pedigree Notes

Providing Frankel's inevitable first 2000 Guineas success, Chaldean is the sixth winner and fifth black-type performer out of Suelita alongside the G2 Mill Reef S. scorer Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). Suelita is kin to the G3 Cornwallis S. runner-up Outer Space (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) and to the dam of Living In The Past (Fr) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who continues the trend of sprinters in the first two generations with success in the G2 Lowther S.

The third dam is the GII Matchmaker S. winner Horatia (Ire) (Machiavellian), whose leading progeny is the G3 Pinnacle S. scorer and GI E.P. Taylor S.-placed Moment In Time (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}) and whose daughter Awohaam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) produced the G3 Marble Hill S. scorer and G1 Middle Park S. runner-up Castle Star (Ire) (Staspangledbanner {Aus}). In contrast, Horatia is a half to the five-times group-winning stayer Opinion Poll (Ire) (Halling) who Frankie knew well along with another of the family's stars, Markofdistinction (GB) (Known Fact) who provided him with his first Group 1 win in the 1990 Queen Elizabeth II S. Suelita's yearling filly by Kingman (GB) was the 1 million gns Tattersalls December Foal Sale topper after Juddmonte refused to let her go.

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS S.-G1, £500,000, Newmarket, 5-6, 3yo, 8fT, 1:41.64, sf.
1–CHALDEAN (GB), 128, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Suelita (GB), by Dutch Art (GB)
     2nd Dam: Venoge (Ire), by Green Desert
     3rd Dam: Horatia (Ire), by Machiavellian
(550,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Juddmonte; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-Frankie Dettori. £283,550. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-0, $892,361. *1/2 to Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), GSW-Eng; 1/2 to The Broghie Man (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), SW-Ire, SP-Fr, $100,140. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hi Royal (Ire), 128, c, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Majestic Roi, by Street Cry (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. TDN Rising Star. O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £107,500.
3–Royal Scotsman (GB), 128, c, 3, Gleneagles (Ire)–Enrol (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (125,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Paul & Oliver Cole. £53,800.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 125.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Galeron (Ire), Dubai Mile (Ire), Noble Style (GB), Sakheer (Ire), Charyn (Ire), Holloway Boy (GB), Indestructible (Ire), Silver Knott (GB), Auguste Rodin (Ire), Flight Plan (GB), Little Big Bear (Ire).

 

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Guineas Storm Brewing In Newmarket

Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas asks the usual set of questions, with the Classic generation due to be examined for the first time with their raw material and any flaws about to be exposed on Newmarket's Rowley Mile which was the scene of thundery conditions on Friday afternoon. Aside from the ever-present quandary of pace positioning and ground conditions, with the latter scenario complicated by the sight of looming dense clouds on Guineas eve, there is the annual unknown of just how dominant last year's leading 2-year-olds still are. Will Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) re-establish their superiority or will it have relinquished during the winter months? How will 2022's speed merchants fare? Little Big Bear is in that bracket, as are fellow TDN Rising Stars Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), all going beyond the sacred sprinting realm of the sixth furlong. We will find out only on the day and while this is a track that divides opinion as to how stiff it is, it somehow always seems to put the fast ones into the red.

 

Been There…

What is different to most 2000 Guineas of recent times, and this is probably testament to how strong a season 2022 was for the juveniles, is this is very much one for the already-proven performers with barely an unexposed type to be seen. Only four of the line-up have not contested at least two group races and, of those, the aforementioned Sakheer and Noble Style were denied a second pattern-race outing only by training setbacks. When it comes to establishing fitting credentials for this Classic, Juddmonte's Chaldean who has the combined Frankel and Frankie factor is out on his own.

Building a head of steam throughout the perfectly-aligned G1 Dewhurst S. stepping stones of the G3 Acomb S. and G2 Champagne S. over York and Doncaster's level courses, he duly conquered the undulations of this track on Future Champions Day to bring up a treble that would have been beyond a colt with less inherent quality. Yes, he would be an extremely rare Guineas winner with a “U” in his form, having lost Dettori at the start of the G3 Greenham S., but that unfortunate incident was a mere aberration and will serve only as a curious footnote if he masters his peers once again here.

If successful, one of the operation's rare purchases will be providing Andrew Balding with a second renewal in four years with only Aidan O'Brien, Sir Michael Stoute, Saeed bin Suroor and Andre Fabre having achieved that in recent times. The new face of Kingsclere is on his way to matching the kudos enjoyed by his father but of course the emphasis is on Frankie during the Italian's long goodbye tour.

Dettori, whose own father Gianfranco came and conquered here on Bolkonski (Ire) to start a new racing dynasty back in 1975, has the least-complicated tactical conundrum of all as he outlined when offering his insights as an ambassador for World Pool. “The way I see it, the fancied ones are drawn 11-13, so it's not ideal being away from them, but Chaldean is a horse who can go and run his own race,” he said. “He's got plenty of speed, so hopefully he can get away well and be right up there from the off, just like he was in the Dewhurst and the Champagne S. His form is very solid and you know exactly what you're getting with Chaldean–he's bombproof–whereas the others have a bit to prove. It's just a case of whether the others can step up to match or better what he's shown already.”

 

Bad News Bear?

Supporters of Auguste Rodin, and there are many judged by the way the betting market has moved in recent weeks, will be well-served to cast their minds back to 2002 which was the last time Aidan O'Brien ran two elite performers against each other here. Rock Of Gibraltar's defeat of Hawk Wing will live long in the memory largely due to the quality of the first two, but also because of the tactical nature of the edition with the not-unfamiliar field split playing out so dramatically on that occasion. There should be no repeat of that at least, with Little Big Bear drawn alongside his much-vaunted stablemate and fellow TDN Rising Star, but there is no guarantee that Ryan Moore's pick will be able to peg back what was one of the best 2-year-olds to have emerged since Frankel.

Despite the nature of Little Big Bear's G3 Anglesey S. and G1 Phoenix S. performances, which suggested strongly that a mile would be well within his compass, there was talk of Nunthorpes until his injury cut short his campaign much as it did the yard's comparable past juvenile overlord Fasliyev. Without the proof that runs in the Vincent O'Brien National S. or Dewhurst would have provided, it is probably not far of the mark to state that even those closest to him are not sold on what type of runner he will turn out to be.

As a benchmark of brilliance, of both the permanent and precocious variety, Little Big Bear's scintillating seven-length defeat of the G2 July S. winner Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is Guineas-winning form in practically every year, even allowing for stamina concerns. Should he use his physicality to pull away Zafonic-style in what the old school used to call “the last 2-year-old race”, nobody can be truly surprised.

Ryan Moore knows both the Rosegreen undergraduates, who he states are “the two best horses in here”, better than anybody and the man with the hardest call offered the big reveal in his Betfair blog. “Little Big Bear clearly has a lot of pace, but I personally think he will stay a mile and that makes him a very dangerous rival to all,” he said. “Auguste Rodin is an exciting prospect for the season, but hopefully for the here and now, too. But would it surprise me if Little Big Bear beat him? Not really.”

 

One Eye On The Commonwealth…

   A glance at the 2000 Guineas records of winners of the six-furlong G2 Richmond S. and G2 Mill Reef S. offers little statistical hope for Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Sakheer and, while the former did go close in the Dewhurst, there have to be doubts as to how they will cope with a strong-run mile on easy ground. While this renewal looks set to boast an above-average Guineas winner, it is also on the cards that it could contain a Commonwealth Cup winner once the dust has settled and the various teams regroup for Royal Ascot and Epsom.

Sakheer's connections were already in the dark about the mile and, ominously, Friday's lightning storm led to a flag start to the last race. After the double-whammy of rain on already-watered ground, they are understandably anxious. “Ideally we wouldn't want too much more rain,” KHK Racing's racing manager Chris Wall said. “I was a little exasperated to see that Michael Prosser had started to water the track, which seems rather an unnecessary thing to do, given that we have had the wettest spring for 40 years but there we go. The horse couldn't be in better condition and we're looking forward to the day. He's a very talented horse, but we're not sure yet what his best trip might be.”

 

Tahiyra Faces Big 1000 Guineas Field

Dermot Weld will be one trainer not unhappy to see Friday's rain after he confirmed The Aga Khan's undefeated G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine and TDN Rising Star Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) among a cast of 20 for Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Handed stall 15 for the feature, the half-sister to connections' luminary Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) will be reopposed by the Moyglare runner-up and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) as Ballydoyle's lone representative after another of the stable's leading lights Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is kept back for either ParisLongchamp or The Curragh.

Chris Hayes has the task of trying to provide Weld with a first 1000 Guineas and said, “She looked terribly exciting [in the Moyglare], she seems to have wintered well so I'm looking forward to it. I'm very excited, to get on any favourite in a Classic is rare, for me it's the stuff of dreams so we'll see what we can do. Obviously, like the boss has said, there's always the question if they train on from two to three, but on her home work she appears to have and she's just a pleasure. She'll never get you excited going up the gallops but she turns it on at the races.”

Alongside Never Ending Story, Juddmonte's G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. winner Juliet Sierra (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) was the only other not to be confirmed and Godolphin's decision to run a trio of contenders is one of many indicators that very few are running scared of the Weld filly. This is the biggest assembly since Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) mastered 20 rivals in 2007, two years before Saeed bin Suroor enjoyed his last English Classic victory. The trainer has live prospects of ending that drought with TDN Rising Star Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who bids to confirm the form of the Jumeirah Fillies Classic with William Buick's pick of Charlie Appleby's duo, Dream Of Love (Ire) (Shamardal).

Amo Racing's Classic dream lives on through the impressive G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner Mammas Girl (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who is nearest the stand's rail in 20 while on the opposite wing is Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen's G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). She gives Ralph Beckett a strong hand along with Julian Richmond-Watson's unbeaten G3 Fred Darling S. scorer Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in a fascinating encounter which could yet be shaped by the local storm.

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