Little Big Bear named Europe's champion juvenile as Aidan O'Brien outlines plans

Little Big Bear has been crowned Europe's champion juvenile for 2022 and achieved the highest rating in the category since Pinatubo.

The son of No Nay Never, who is trained by Aidan O'Brien, has been allocated a rating of 124 in the annual two-year-old classifications. He is rated 5lb superior of joint runners-up Blackbeard and Chaldean.

He is the 12th O'Brien-trained horse to be named the top two-year-old and is the best since the 128-rated Pinatubo in 2019.

Little Big Bear won four of his five starts last season, improving from a short-head defeat on his debut to win easily at Naas and land the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. He flawlessly stepped up to Group 3 level in the Anglesey Stakes and capped the season with a staggering seven-length victory in the Phoenix Stakes in August.

Soreness following that win meant he did not run again but he remains on track for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, for which he heads the betting at 5-1.

O'Brien said: "We always thought from day one he was very good and were surprised when he was beaten first time. We had been looking forward to the National Stakes with him as he ran through the line over six [furlongs] and I remember Ryan [Moore, jockey] being sure he’d stay seven.

"No Nay Never is an influence for speed, but there’s a good chance he’ll stay a mile and it’ll be in his scope. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do."

O'Brien was responsible for three of the six best two-year-olds in Europe, including Blackbeard (119) and Auguste Rodin (118).

The former was retired to stud following a gallops injury in October, but he recorded six wins from eight starts last season including in the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes.

Auguste Rodin: Derby favourite achieved a rating of 118Credit: Edward Whitaker

Auguste Rodin is a 3-1 favourite for the 2023 Derby following his victory in the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster.

"We think he's a very good horse," O'Brien added of the colt, who is being aimed at the 2,000 Guineas too.

"We were worried about the ground that day at Doncaster. We nearly didn’t run him. He’s a lovely, quality, slick horse. We always thought he’d be a better three-year-old than two-year-old.

"We'll start him and Little Big Bear in the Guineas and we think they're smart colts. He'll then go up in trip and we're very excited going into the races with him this year."

The Andrew Balding-trained Chaldean was named Britain's best juvenile having been rated 1lb higher than Royal Scotsman, whom he beat by a head in October's Dewhurst Stakes.

Tahiyra was named Europe's champion two-year-old filly with a rating of 118. She is Dermot Weld's first champion juvenile having landed the Moyglare Stud Stakes in scintillating fashion on just her second start.

Top ten two-year-olds of 2022

124 Little Big Bear
119 Blackbeard
119 Chaldean
118 Auguste Rodin
118 Royal Scotsman
118 Tahiyra
117 Noble Style
115 Commissioning
115 Silver Knott
115 Victoria Road

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