It’s very early in the careers of this season’s two-year-olds. Only a precocious few have been seen on the track so far and they still have plenty to learn. Aidan O’Brien struck with his only two-year-old runner of the season so far at Dundalk earlier this week. Blackbeard learnt a lot in the early parts of the race before quickening away in the style of a good horse. This evidence suggests that O’Brien’s faster juveniles are more forward than they often are first time out and he is looking to strike in both of the juvenile races at the Curragh on Sunday.
Meditate is a €360,000 daughter of the frighteningly fast No Nay Never who also sired Blackbeard. 46 per cent of No Nay Never’s progeny to have raced over 5f or 6f have won which is why he’s such a popular stallion for the Coolmore partners’ early season juveniles. This filly’s dam was also a winner over an extended 6f which suggests that Meditate should be pretty fast and if she’s forward enough she can win here before moving on to better things.
It’s surprising to see a juvenile race over 6f this early in the season as in Britain you’re not likely to come across these yet. This could well suit the €320,000 purchase Little Big Bear. Although he is another son of No Nay Never, there is more stamina on his dam’s side and she was a Listed winner over an extended 1m2f. Presumably the aim is for him to have the perfect blend of speed and stamina which could enable him to win over this distance so early in the season.
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