Brant’s Whistlejacket aims for Breeders’ Cup after win in France

Racing for the second time in eight days, Whistlejacket thrust himself into the Breeders’ Cup picture with his front-running triumph Sunday in the Group 1, US$386,500 Prix Morny, a turf race for 2-year-olds at Deauville, France.

Racing along the grandstand side of the straight, six-furlong course, the No Nay Never colt bred in Ireland and carrying the colors of prominent U.S. owner Peter Brant earned an automatic berth in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

“He’s a five- or six-furlong horse,” winning trainer Aidan O’Brien told Equidia TV. “He’s probably a Middle Park-type horse ... and then hopefully go 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.

Last Saturday, Whistlejacket faded to finish second to Babouche in the six-furlong Phoenix (G1) at the Curragh in Ireland.

“Because he’s so fast and precocious, we thought he could do both races,” said O’Brien, a five-time winner in the Morny. “It’s a very tough thing for a horse to do, especially when they’re only a week apart.”

Breaking alertly from post 2 in the field of four other colts and four fillies, Whistlejacket (5-2) carried jockey Ryan Moore to a narrow lead that he maintained for most of the race en route to a three-quarter-length win. Without a run-up on a course rated good, the winning time was 1:11.02 for the 1,200 meters, about 7 1/2 yards short of six furlongs.

Rashabar (12-1) finished second, and his trainer Brian Meehan said the Breeders’ Cup could be a possibility.

“I always like the idea of the Breeders’ Cup,” so that would be a possibility, but we’ll see,” Meehan said. “We’ll get him home and regroup next week.”

Daylight (9-2) was another three-quarters of a length behind in third, Arabie (7-2) 1 1/4 more lengths back in fourth and Epson Blue Cen (31-1) a farther 1 3/4 lengths up the track in fifth.

In the world pool with no equivalent of place betting, Whistlejacket paid $7.40 to win and $3.20 to show. Rashabar returned $6 and Daylight $4.20.

Whistlejacket has alternated losses and wins in his short career. He broke his maiden on second asking May 6 at the Curragh and won the July Stakes (G2) 38 days ago at Newmarket, England. His record is 6: 3-2-0 with earnings of $414,589.

Co-owned by Coolmore’s Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Whistlejacket was sold for $634,024 at the Tattersalls October yearling sale in England. He is a full brother of Little Big Bear, a Europe juvenile champion who won the 2022 Phoenix.