Jean-Philippe Dubois

It might be over-egging the pudding a bit to describe this year's Prix Morny as a familiar tale of woe for the home team. However, in order to understand why the 2024 winner, Whistlejacket, is such a welcome addition to the Normandy stallion ranks for next season, it's important to acknowledge the gaping void that necessitated his purchase in the first place. Increasingly, France seems to be falling behind its British and Irish counterparts when it comes to producing top-class, sprinting juveniles. This struggle was depicted in no uncertain terms...

Group 1 winner Whistlejacket has been acquired by a group of breeders led by Jean-Philippe Dubois and will stand for €14,000 at Haras de Grandcamp next year, France-Sire reported on Friday. The full-brother to fellow juvenile top-level winner Little Big Bear will have his stallion career and syndication managed by Jean Daniel Manceau of Capucines Bloodstock. Dubois said in a statement, "I had the opportunity to follow the two-year-old season of Whistlejacket, a true model of precocity and courage. His victory in the Prix Morny made an impression, It has...

Patrice Cottier trainee Grey Man (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Top Toss {Ire}, by Linamix {Fr}), successful in two of three prior outings, headed postward with crowd confidence for Sunday's G3 Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville and returned to the winner's enclosure with a first black-type rosette having dominated late in the seven-furlong test. The 6-5 favourite accepted a tow in second after breaking on the lead and settled into a comfortable rhythm through halfway. Looming large going well approaching the quarter-mile pole, he was beyond recall once wresting the...

Nobody was going to rain on Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}--Elusive Action {Fr}, by Elusive City)'s parade as she emerged from the bog that was Saratoga's lawn Friday to score her first stakes win in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. With pouring rain that led to an abandoned post parade and eventually cancelled the rest of the card, the field for the Saratoga Oaks went straight from the paddock to the gate. Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) controlled the pace through :23.55 and :48.57 early fractions while...

Haras de Grandcamp-based freshman sire Martinborough (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) registered his first winner when his gelded son Central Park West (Fr) posted a half-length verdict at Dieppe. 1st-Dieppe, €16,000, Mdn, 6-8, 2yo, c/g, 5 1/2fT, 1:05.55, g/s. CENTRAL PARK WEST (FR) (g, 2, Martinborough {Jpn}--Rapid Transaction, by A.P. Indy) occupied a stalking role behind the leaders through halfway in this debut. Coming under pressure to close passing the quarter-mile marker, the 13-10 favourite went third approaching the eighth pole and found another gear inside the final 100 metres to...