Whistlejacket returned to winning ways on Sunday in the Group 1 feature race at Deauville, the Sumbe Prix Morny.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, the son of No Nay Never finished only fourth in the Norfolk Stakes when sent out as heavy favourite at Royal Ascot but has since shown improved form by winning the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket and finishing second to Babouche in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last weekend.
Just eight days later, the clear favourite returned at 2/1, making a striking pitch to the side of the stands from the start and, after using virtually every metre of the race, fending off a late challenge from surprise Coventry Stakes winner Rashabar (12/1) further down the middle of the track.
Whistlejacket finished three-quarters of a length clear of Brian Meehan’s colt, with the locally trained Daylight the same distance behind in third place.
Arabie finished fourth, while Karl Burke’s stablemate Shareholder was last of the nine finishers after proving easy to back in preparatory training and running with an open choke in the early stages under James Doyle.
For O’Brien, it was his fifth career win in this French competition, the last being in 2022 against Blackbeard.
Blackbeard went on to win the Middle Park Stakes and Whistlejacket was cut favourite from 4/1 to 5/2 by Paddy Power and Betfair for the Group 1 race at Newmarket next month. Sky Bet also cut Babouche from 3/1 to 2/1 for the Cheveley Park Stakes after she showed a considerable improvement in form.
The winner now also qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf as part of the “Win and You’re In” series.
O’Brien told Sky Sports Racing: “It was really the boss’s (John Magnier) decision – he felt he could run both races, the Heinz (Phoenix Stakes) and the Morny.
“He’s a very fast horse – a typical No Nay Never, very fast. Ryan said the same thing – he had all the weapons in his hand the whole time.
“He came out of the race (last week) very well and I’m delighted. Ryan felt the Irish race didn’t go quite as he would have liked. He felt two of them got together very early and the Curragh is a tough track.
“Ryan rode him brilliantly as always. He’s a Middle Park type horse and probably a Breeders’ Cup type as well.”
Meehan was pleased that Rashabar proved that his success at Royal Ascot was no fluke.
He said: “The draw didn’t help us, just like not being at Ascot didn’t help us, but it worked out well on the day.
“I don’t want to offend the winner, I think he’s a great horse. I saw him in the parade ring before and thought he was a very beautiful horse. But I think the draw played a role for us. The winner had the inside track and I think there was a fresh strip of ground there too.
“He (Rashabar) is a real horse. I have won the Prix Morny twice before (Bad As I Wanna Be in 2000 and Arcano in 2009), but I would say this guy is better.
“I want to get him to seven (furlongs) now and we’ll play it by ear. I’m a bit worried about the penalty (for winning at Ascot) but I’d say the Guineas will be top of his list next year.
“I always like the idea of the Breeders’ Cup, so that would be a possibility, but we’ll see. We’ll bring him home and regroup next week.”
Rashabar was the second horse Meehan has saddled in the space of a few days to finish second at Deauville, while his other Royal Ascot hero Jayarebe gave the William Haggas-trained Economics a real run for his money in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano on Thursday.
He added: “We had a great week and won around €350,000 in prize money without winning a single race!
Jayarebe had a great run and there was no sad story. I think it was his career best and Williams’ horse was outstanding.
“It’s actually the same with him (Jayarebe). I just wanted to get both horses here and we’ll go over the plan again next week when I have a chance to catch my breath.”
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