Competing for the second time in less than two weeks, Whistlejacket positioned himself in the Breeders’ Cup contention with his leading victory on Sunday in the Group 1, US$386,500 Prix Morny, a grass track event for 2-year-olds at Deauville, France.
Racing alongside the spectator side of the straight, six-furlong route, the No Nay Never colt, bred in Ireland and bearing the colors of distinguished U.S. owner Peter Brant, secured an automatic spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint scheduled for Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
An exciting finish to the end!
See how Whistlejacket assures his place in the #BreedersCup Juvenile Turf Sprint with his win in the #WinAndYoureIn Sumbe Prix Morny at @francegalop!
Congratulations to the team! pic.twitter.com/pFOzODKawZ
— Breeders’ Cup (@BreedersCup) August 18, 2024
“He’s a five- or six-furlong racehorse,” successful trainer Aidan O’Brien
commented to Equidia TV. “He’s probably of the Middle Park horse type … and then hopefully
he will proceed to the Breeders’ Cup after that.”
O’Brien was referring to the six-furlong Middle Park Stakes
(G1) on the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket, England, on Sept. 28. The Juvenile
Turf Sprint at the Breeders’ Cup is five furlongs.
Just the previous Saturday, Whistlejacket wound up finishing second to Babouche
in the six-furlong Phoenix (G1) at the Curragh in Ireland.
“Because he’s incredibly fast and early-developing, we thought he could manage
both races,” stated O’Brien, a five-time champion in the Morny. “It’s an extremely challenging task for a horse to perform,
especially when the races are only a week apart.”
Starting promptly from post 2 in the group of four other
colts and four fillies, Whistlejacket (5-2) led jockey Ryan Moore to a
slight lead that he held for the majority of the race, culminating in a three-quarter-length
victory. With no run-up on a course rated good, the winning time was 1:11.02 for
the 1,200 meters, roughly 7 1/2 yards short of six furlongs.
Rashabar (12-1) secured second place, and his trainer Brian Meehan mentioned the Breeders’ Cup could be a potential next step.
“I always have a fondness for the Breeders’ Cup,” Meehan said. “So that could be a possibility, but we’ll see,” added Meehan. “We’ll take him home and reassess next week.”
Daylight (9-2) was a further
three-quarters of a length behind in third, with Arabie (7-2) 1 1/4 more lengths
back in fourth and Epson Blue Cen (31-1) an additional 1 3/4 lengths behind
in fifth.
In the world pool with no equivalent of place betting, Whistlejacket
returned $7.40 to win and $3.20 to show. Rashabar yielded $6 and Daylight $4.20.
Whistlejacket has alternated between victories and losses in his brief
career. He claimed his maiden win on his second attempt on May 6 at the Curragh and triumphed in the
July Stakes (G2) 38 days ago at Newmarket, England. His record stands at 6: 3-2-0 with
earnings amounting to $414,589.
Jointly owned by Coolmore’s Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and
Derrick Smith, Whistlejacket was purchased for $634,024 at the Tattersalls October
yearling sale in England. He is a full sibling of Little Big Bear, a European juvenile champion who claimed victory in the 2022 Phoenix.
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