21 August 2022
Photos : scoopdyga.com
August 21, 2022, Deauville-La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – Winner of the Darley Prix Robert Papin (Gr2), the first stage of the Darley series for 2-year-olds in France, Blackbeard (No Nay Never) doubled down in the series finale, the €350,000 Darley Prix Morny (Gr1), fourteen years after the last Irish-trained winner of the Deauville juveniles’ classic, Bushranger, handled by David Wachman. This time, the trophy goes to Ballydoyle and Aidan O'Brien’s stable, whose last success was in 2001, thanks to Johannesburg (Hennessy). The last Papin-Morny double was managed in 2017 by Unfortunately (Society Rock).
Five runners took the start for a 6-furlong straight trip. Blackbeard went to the inside rail and moved into the fray under 2 furlongs out. He led soon and kept going under pressure as Persian Force (Mehmas) challenged him to the wire but failed by half a length.
Recent winner of the Darley Prix de Cabourg (Gr3), the second stage of the Darley series, The Antarctic (Dark Angel) behaved well and secured a cosy third place, one and a half length behind the exacta.
Tracking data shows that the two first home ran the second last furlong in 10''75. In the last portion, however, the winner made a difference with the best time of the field in 11''43.
Blackbeard was sold for £270,000 as a weanling at Tattersalls. He’s the first foal out of Muirin (Born to Sea), winner of her first race and a Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr1) 4th immediately after. Bred by Sunderland, the filly was sold for €210,000 at 3 to Broadhurst Agency (Laurent Benoît).