Bear mauls Anglesey Stakes rivals to complete O'Brien double

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore completed an opening race double when Little Big Bear easily justified odds on favouritism in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh.

Winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot on his latest start, the colt was stepping back up in trip here but had no difficulty in seeing off his five rivals.

Away smartly, Ryan Moore tracked the pace setting Kodi Noir in the early stages before taking it up once that one began to weaken. Moore never had an anxious moment aboard the 2-5f who always had the measure of this field. Yosemite Valley stayed on best for second with Badb back in third. The former came forward nicely from a slightly unlucky debut run in which he was denied a clear passage until late on.

“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 he 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.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson