18 August 2024
Photo scoopdyga.com
Deauville, Sunday, August 18th, 2024 – The €350,000 Sumbe Prix Morny (Gr1), Deauville's championship race for 2-year-olds over six furlongs, witnessed another Irish triumph, marking the fifth victory for Aidan O'Brien, the most successful active trainer in the race's history.
The winner, Whistlejacket (No Nay Never), is a chestnut colt, reminiscent of the 18th-century champion who served as a model for George Stubbs and likely inspired his name. This was his sixth career start, just eight days after his second-place finish in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Gr1) at the Curragh. Drawn favourably in stall two, this representative of Peter Brant, in partnership with the principal Coolmore associates, was able to race along the rail and quickly assume the lead, flanked by Arabie (Dandy Man), winner of the Prix Robert Papin (Gr2), and the keen-going Estepona (Mehmas) in the centre of the track. In the final two furlongs, the closers had to navigate around the leading group, and Rashabar (Holy Roman Emperor) mounted a strong challenge to the winner all the way to the line. However, racing alone in the centre of the track, he had to settle for an excellent second place, less than a length behind, just ahead of the filly Earthlight, who followed his run, and the ever-game Arabie, closer to the rail.
Whistlejacket is a full brother to the champion 2-year-old Little Big Bear (No Nay Never), winner of the 2022 Phoenix Stakes (Gr1). He was sold for £500,000 at the Tattersalls sales to Michael Vincent O'Brien and White Birch Farm, Peter Brant's breeding operation. His dam, Adventure Seeker (Bering), bred by the Widenstein family and a granddaughter of the champion mare All Along, was sold in foal to Siyouni for €125,000 at the dispersal of the stud in 2016 to Brendan Bashford Bloodstock.
What they said...
Aidan O'Brien - trainer of Whistlejacket (1st) - Ireland
"Whistlejacket shows tremendous speed, as do all progeny of his sire. In the Phoenix Stakes, things didn't go exactly as planned. The boss's [John Magnier] decision was to run him here a week later, as the colt hadn't been unduly exerted in the previous race. He has a wonderful temperament. It's challenging to achieve what he has, especially at two years old. Logically, he'll head to the Middle Park Stakes, and then we'll consider the Breeders' Cup."
Brian Meehan - trainer of Rashabar (2nd) - England
"My initial analysis is that Rashabar had a wide draw at Ascot and again today. Looking at his pedigree, he's built for distances between seven and eight furlongs. This is the last time I'll run him over six furlongs. He delivered a very strong performance in an exceptionally competitive Morny. I've won this race twice, and I think Rashabar is superior to my previous winners! With no disrespect to the winner, as it's impossible not to respect such a colt, I think that if we had the advantage of the rail, he could have won. Rashabar put in a fantastic performance and continues to progress. Anything is possible, but I'm keen to try our luck in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Whether we'll go there directly or not, I'm not sure yet. I am not concerned about the Del Mar [Californian racecourse] turning track. We have a track with a bend at home, so he can work on it."
Pauline Chehboub - racing manager for Gousserie Racing, owner of Daylight (3rd)
"Daylight never really got a clear run when she needed it. Her rider, Mickael Barzalona, made the right choices as we were tracking the horses we wanted to. The fact that she was unlucky certainly cost us, but we can't change the race's outcome. She made an excellent impression and didn't have to fight. Daylight is a talented filly, and we've known that since the beginning of her career. Today, she showed us she's the best filly over sprint distances in Europe. She's in the Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1), which will certainly be her target for October."