THE eagerly anticipated Group 1 Keenland Phoenix Stakes was billed as the preeminent juvenile race of the season so date – and the marquee event didn’t disappoint as champion two-year-old elect Little Big Bear (120+) delivered a stunning performance.

The race itself was a carbon copy of the Angelesey Stakes, with the only difference being the son of No Nay Never ran considerably faster, clocking an overall time marginally faster than 112-rated Go Bears Go (117) who himself returned to top form when winning the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes earlier on the card.