Little Big Bear
Little Big Bear’s 7-length victory 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, Derby and Irish Derby. That Phoenix Stakes victory was Little Big Bear’s fourth consecutive success, and third black-type victory. Little Big Bear added another stakes victory in the Gr.2 Sandy Lane Stakes, before taking second place in the Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup.
Speed was undoubtedly Little Big Bear’s forte, and the same applies to his younger brother Whistlejacket, who led virtually throughout in winning the Gr.2 July Stakes and Gr.1 Prix Morny. However, Little Big Bear’s pedigree suggests he will prove capable of siring plenty of smart milers, in addition to sprinters. His dam Adventure Seeker won the Listed Prix de Liancourt and was second in the Gr.3 Prix Cleopatre, both over 1m2½f. In doing so, she showed the stamina expected of a filly whose sire Bering won the Prix du Jockey-Club and whose second dam, All Along, won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
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.
The DANEHILL and GREEN DESERT branches of the DANZIG male line have already worked well with other members of the Scat Daddy male line, including No Nay Never. Ten Sovereigns is out of a mare by EXCEED AND EXCEL, whereas No Nay Never’s multiple Gr.1-winning filly Alcohol Free is out of a grand-daughter of Danzig, by HARD SPUN. No Nay Never also has black-type winners out of daughters of HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR, KODIAC, DANSILI, ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (Gr.2 scorer Land Force), FASTNET ROCK (Gr.2 winner Truly Enchanting), ORATORIO and CATCHER IN THE RYE. Mares by CAMACHO and CLODOVIL would also reinforce Little Big Bear’s speed, as would daughters of CHOISIR, STARSPANGLEDBANNER, DANDY MAN, ZOFFANY and BATED BREATH.
GREEN DESERT’s son INVINCIBLE SPIRIT sired the dam of No Nay Never’s fast Gr.2 winner Trillium, while another son of GREEN DESERT sired the dam of Gr.2 winner Aesop’s Fable. No Nay Never has a 7f Gr.3 winner out of a mare by SEA THE STARS. No Nay Never is doing very well with OASIS DREAM blood. He has an impressive 20% BTWs from 20 foals out of mares by OASIS DREAM, including Gr.2 2yo winners Array and Les Pavots. OASIS DREAM also sired the dams of Caravaggio’s Gr.1 winner Whitebeam and El Kabeir’s fast daughter Azure Blue, while Sioux Nation, another of Scat Daddy’s sons, has several good winners inbred 3x3 to OASIS DREAM, including Group winners Sydneyarms Chelsea and Ocean Quest.
Mares by sons of INVINCIBLE SPIRIT, such as KINGMAN and LAWMAN, should also 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 his first 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 Blackbeard, while the 2nd dam of Gr.2 winner Aesop’s Fables is by another son of NUREYEV.
Although Little Big Bear has three lines of MR PROSPECTOR, this outstanding American stallion will be no closer than the fifth generation of Little Big Bear’s 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. SMART STRIKE is also the broodmare sire of Ten Sovereigns’ smart American 2yo Zulu Kingdom. Two more of No Nay Never’s Gr.2 winners, including Zain Claudette, 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.
Mares by FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND, SHAMARDAL, LOPE DE VEGA and BLUE POINT could all reinforce Little Big Bear’s juvenile ability.
The SADLER’S WELLS line has been working well with other members of 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-winning daughter Opera Singer. No Nay Never also has Henry Adams and Midnight Mile, both Gr.3 winners at two, among his runners out of GALILEO mares. Justify’s numerous Group performers out of GALILEO mares include the outstanding City of Troy. Mares by HIGH CHAPARRAL have produced three Group winners (12%) to No Nay Never and No Nay Never’s son Ten Sovereigns already has a Listed winner out of one.
The SHIRLEY HEIGHTS male line has quickly made its mark with No Nay Never. The smart siblings Wichita and Bubbling have a dam by DASHING BLADE, while the Group winning 2yos Meditate and Midnight Mile respectively have a dam by DALAKHANI and a 2nd dam by DARSHAAN.
Mares from the quick-maturing ROYAL APPLAUSE line should help Little Big Bear pass on his considerable juvenile ability. No Nay Never’s very useful sprinter Royal Commando has a dam by ACCLAMATION, while ROYAL APPLAUSE sired the 2nd dam of Gr.2 winner Trillium. Daughters of DARK ANGEL, MEHMAS and EQUIANO would also suit.
No Nay Never has a Gr.3 winner out of an INDIAN RIDGE mare and his Group winners Wichita, Bubbling, Land Force and Love Locket all have 2nd dams by INDIAN RIDGE.