Aiden O’Brien’s Whistlejacket is all set for Group One motion within the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes on the Curragh on Saturday.
The chestnut son of No Nay By no means – a full-brother to Little Massive Bear – was a Listed winner within the First Flier earlier within the season after ending runner-up on debut.
At Royal Ascot he was fourth within the five-furlong Norfolk Stakes after coming with a late run, however regained the successful thread when taking the Group Two July Stakes at Newmarket final month, having fun with the transfer to 6 furlongs.
Ryan Moore provides Whistlejacket a well-deserved pat after victory at Newmarket (David Davies for The Jockey Membership)
That kind was properly boosted at Goodwood, when the third horse dwelling, Aomori Metropolis, landed the Classic Stakes.
The subsequent port of name for Whistlejacket would be the Phoenix Stakes on the Curragh, the place he would be the Ballydoyle consultant rather than stablemate Fairy Godmother.
“Whistlejacket will run there, that’s the plan. All the pieces is nice with him and that’s at all times been the plan for him,” O’Brien mentioned.
“He’s a really easy horse. It simply didn’t click on at Ascot, when he was getting going the race was simply completed.”
O’Brien additionally supplied an replace on Kyprios, a superb winner of the Goodwood Cup who’s certain for the Irish St Leger to attempt to regain the title he gained in 2022 and missed out on by solely three-quarters of a size final yr, in what was a outstanding run following almost a yr on the sidelines.
Kyprios was a category aside in successful the Goodwood Cup (Andrew Matthews/PA)
“He’s excellent. It’s six weeks to the Curragh in order that’s most likely the place we’ll go,” O’Brien mentioned.
“We simply wish to preserve him protected, get via the remainder of the yr and get to subsequent yr with him.”
Of the likelihood the Irish Leger being the final race of Kyprios’ season, O’Brien added: “It may very well be, I’d think about. He might go to Arc weekend, however that’s what we’ll do in the mean time anyway. We’ll take it separately.”
Requested if he may very well be tempted by the Arc for Kyprios, O’Brien mentioned: “I suppose it’s going to rely upon what else is there. It’s nearly getting him via the winter now to get him to subsequent yr.
Metropolis Of Troy and jockey Ryan Moore after successful the Coral-Eclipse (Steven Paston for The Jockey Membership)
“These Gold Cup horses are very uncommon, very uncommon, and it’s very arduous to get them. We’ve had so many good horses, however once they go previous two miles the gauge simply stops.
“He’s excellent, what he did final yr completely stunned me and I believe that was the best efficiency of all out of him, his two runs final yr.”
In the meantime, Derby and Eclipse hero Metropolis Of Troy stays on track for the Juddmonte Worldwide at York’s Ebor assembly, with O’Brien saying: “In the intervening time every thing goes good and that’s the place we’re going.”
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