'He could be a superstar' - who were the big winners this week?

The Racing Post's awards honour the best (and sometimes worst) performances and raise talking points from the last seven days of racing. This week's winners are . . .

Performance of the week

Little Big Bear

In what was billed as the hottest juvenile race of the season, Little Big Bear delivered a stunning performance in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

The son of No Nay Never shot seven lengths clear of July Stakes winner Persian Force, with other Group 2 winners Shartash and Bradsell in behind.

Aidan O'Brien, who was winning the Group 1 contest for the 17th time, described Little Big Bear as "a very special horse" after his emphatic win and is evidently excited about what the future may hold.

He mentioned several potential next steps for Little Big Bear's two-year-old campaign, and suggested the colt could go either up or down in distance such is his versatility.

Now clear favourite for next year's 2,000 Guineas, Little Big Bear could be a superstar.

'A very special horse' - Little Big Bear demolishes Phoenix Stakes rivals

Jockey of the week

Neil Callan

Sean Levey kicked off his Racing League campaign in fine style with a treble on the opening night at Doncaster on Thursday, but it was another jockey who excelled in a team format who receives top honours.

Neil Callan, fresh from winning the final three races at Newmarket on Friday evening, claimed the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle for leading rider at the Shergar Cup on Saturday.

Neil Callan: won the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle at the Shergar CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Callan rode two winners and a second at Ascot to help his Great Britain & Ireland team take the Shergar Cup, the third time in as many appearances he has been part of the winning team.

The jockey is enjoying a successful first full season in Britain after more than a decade in Hong Kong, and also rode a winner at Brighton on Thursday.

'He's reaping the dividends' - Callan stars as GB & Ireland scoop Shergar Cup

Trainer of the week

Linda Perratt

Although attention was on Linda Perratt as one of the team managers in the Racing League, she let her training do the talking by sending out five winners in a row.

Perratt had a 50-1 second at Ayr on Thursday while overseeing her Scottish team get on the board at Doncaster with Yaaser.

She missed the winner which began her fantastic sequence, Chinese Spirit at Musselburgh on Friday, as she hit traffic travelling back up to Scotland from South Yorkshire. She did, however, make it in time to see Monhammer complete the double, and a treble at Ayr on Saturday followed.

Despite being only a week into August, it is already Perratt's most prolific month for seven years.

An honourable mention goes to Julie Camacho, who struck with four of her five runners on Wednesday, with a treble at Newcastle and a winner at Pontefract.

'A wee drink and a Chinese banquet' - Perratt celebrates hot streak in style

Linda Perratt: enjoying her best month of winners since August 2015Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Shock of the week

Kraka

After a 23-race losing streak dating back to December 2020, it was no surprise that Kraka was the 125-1 rank outsider for a Class 6 handicap at Yarmouth on Thursday.

However, despite being out of the handicap and lacking recent form, Collen Storey gave his mount a confident ride by making all on Christine Dunnett's seven-year-old.

It was a third winner for Storey since moving to Britain from South Africa as he and Kraka edged out the appropriately named Stranger Things by half a length.

What a Kraka! Seven-year-old strikes at 125-1 under South African ace Storey

Debutant of the week

Denmark

While Little Big Bear leads the 2,000 Guineas market, bookmakers were also taking no chances with another potential Aidan O'Brien Classic contender after he made a winning start at Naas last Monday.

Sky Bet, Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook all made Denmark a 20-1 chance for the 2023 Cazoo Derby after the son of Camelot ran out a comfortable winner of his mile maiden.

Although appearing understandably green in the closing stages and unseating Ryan Moore after the line, Denmark clearly has a huge amount of raw ability.

It will be interesting to see if the colt can progress and attempt to emulate his sire's victory at Epsom, with plenty of stamina also on the dam's side.

€440,000 buy Denmark made 33-1 for 2023 Derby after debut win for Aidan O'Brien

Read more from The Last Word:

Little Big Bear's runaway win rated the best in Phoenix Stakes for 21 years

'It almost didn't look real' - Little Big Bear impresses with his runaway win

The next big thing, new alliances forged and a hint of travesty

Catch our in-depth review of the weekend's racing every Monday in the Racing Post. With big-race analysis from Classic-winning jockey George Baker, Chris Cook's take on the weekend action, eyecatchers from the Raceform team, weekly awards and much more, it is not to be missed.