Little Big Bear
Little Big Bear’s 7-length tour-de-force in the Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes was undoubtedly the best performance by a 2YO in 2022. He topped the European 2YO Classification by no less than 5lb, even though his nearest pursuers included Chaldean and Auguste Rodin, future winners of the 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby respectively. That Phoenix Stakes victory was Little Big Bear’s fourth consecutive success. He added another victory in the Gr.2 Sandy Lane Stakes, when he comfortably accounted for such as Shouldvebeenaring, who later went close to winning the Gr.1 Sprint Cup, and Bradsell, winner next time out of the Gr.1 King’s Stand Stakes.
Although speed was undoubtedly Little Big Bear’s forte, this son of No Nay Never has a pedigree which suggests he will also sire plenty of smart milers. His dam Adventure Seeker won the Listed Prix de Liancourt and was second in the Gr.3 Prix Cleopatre, both over 10½f. Little Big Bear has the advantage of having a pedigree free of such widespread influences as Danehill, Green Desert, Sadler’s Wells, Galileo and Dubawi.
DANZIG line mares have already worked extremely well with other members of the Scat Daddy male line.
Ten Sovereigns is out of a mare by EXCEED AND EXCEL, whereas Alcohol Free is out of a grand-daughter of Danzig, by HARD SPUN, and No Nay Never also has SWs out of HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR, KODIAC, ROCK OF GIBRALTAR, FASTNET ROCK, ORATORIO and CATCHER IN THE RYE mares. HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR is the broodmare sire of Caravaggio’s Gr.1 winner Porta Fortuna and Sioux Nation’s Gr.2 winner Brave Emperor.
GREEN DESERT’s son INVINCIBLE SPIRIT sired the dam of No Nay Never’s Gr.2 winner Trillium, while SHINKO FOREST sired the dam of Gr.2 winner Aesop’s Fables. No Nay Never has a 7f Gr.3 winner out of a SEA THE STARS mare. No Nay Never has an impressive 22% SWs from mares by OASIS DREAM, including Gr.2 2YO winners Array and Les Pavots. Sioux Nation, another of Scat Daddy’s sons, has two Group winners inbred 3x3 to OASIS DREAM. Mares by sons of INVINCLE SPIRIT should work with Little Big Bear, who could be an ideal means of injecting precocity into daughters of SEA THE STARS.
Scat Daddy’s son Caravaggio sired a Gr.1 winner from a PIVOTAL mare and No Nay Never has Listed winners out of daughters of PIVOTAL and PEINTRE CELEBRE. PIVOTAL sired the 2nd dam of the top-class 2YO Blackbeard.
Although Little Big Bear has three lines of MR PROSPECTOR, this outstanding American stallion will be no closer than the fifth generation of his offspring. No Nay Never is thriving with mares with MR PROSPECTOR blood, with the Gr.2-winning siblings Arizona and Nay Lady Nay having a dam by ENGLISH CHANNEL, a son of SMART STRIKE.
Two more of No Nay Never’s Gr.2 winners are out of daughters of SPEIGHTSTOWN and CHESTER HOUSE. Mares by sons of Dubawi, such as NIGHT OF THUNDER, NEW BAY and ZARAK, should suit.
FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND, SHAMARDAL and LOPE DE VEGA mares could all reinforce Little Big Bear’s juvenile ability. Sioux Nation’s Gr.2 winner Matilda Picotte is out of a ONE COOL CAT mare and is therefore inbred 5x3 to STORM CAT, while another of his Gr.2 winners, La Gite, is inbred 4x4 to BLUEBIRD, a son of STORM BIRD.
The SADLER’S WELLS line works well with the Scat Daddy male line. No Nay Never’s Gr.2 winners Shadn and Visualisation have dams by SADLER’S WELLS, who also sired the dam of Justify’s Gr.1 winner Opera Singer. Henry Adams and Midnight Mile, both 2YO Gr.3 winners by No Nay Never, are out of GALILEO mares. Justify’s brilliant 2YO son City of Troy has a dam by GALILEO. Mares by HIGH CHAPARRAL have three Group winners to No Nay Never while Ten Sovereigns already has a dual Listed winner from one.
The SHIRLEY HEIGHTS male line has quickly made its mark. No Nay Never’s son Wichita had a dam by DASHING BLADE, while Meditate and Midnight Mile respectively have a dam by DALAKHANI and a 2nd dam by DARSHAAN. Sioux Nation has a Gr.3 winner with a dam by DALAKHANI and another with a 2nd dam by DARSHAAN.
Mares from the ROYAL APPLAUSE line should help Little Big Bear pass on his considerable juvenile ability. ROYAL APPLAUSE sired the 2nd dam of No Nay Never’s Gr.2 winner Trillium.
No Nay Never has a Gr.3 winner out of an INDIAN RIDGE mare and he has three Group winners all with 2nd dams by INDIAN RIDGE.
BLUSHING GROOM’s sons RAINBOW QUEST, NASHWAN and RAHY collectively sired the 2nd dams of five of No Nay Never’s Stakes winners.