By Tom Frary
Launching his 2025 campaign in Saturday's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes at Navan, Ballydoyle's G1 Prix Morny hero Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) delivered the ideal start with the yard enjoying a one-two. Exuberant for Ryan Moore as his talented stablemate Ides Of March (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) went forward, Peter Brant's accomplished colour-bearer managed to get past in the final yards for a half-length success with Moyglare's filly Sparkling Sea (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) joining in to be a head further behind.
“We thought both horses were just about ready to start and wanted to hopefully get two runs into them before Ascot,” Aidan O'Brien said. “The plan was to come here, go to Naas and then go for the Commonwealth Cup. Ryan was very happy with his horse, said he didn't get any cover and got a little bit tired–he did the right thing and took his time.” Of the runner-up, he added, “I thought the ground was way too soft for him, he's a very good mover and is way better on fast ground. He's a good traveller, a high cruiser and doesn't lie down easily.”
He's back! 😍
Whistlejacket returns to winning ways in the Listed @IrishEBF_ Committed Stakes @NavanRacecourse for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore 🥇@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/WGlXm3IKbx
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 26, 2025
As has been documented, Whistlejacket is a full-brother to the G1 Phoenix Stakes hero Little Big Bear (Ire) and at this stage is probably still slightly below his level but he has time on his side. He is currently the last known foal out of the Listed Prix de Liancourt winner and G3 Prix Cleopatre runner-up Adventure Seeker (Fr) (Bering {GB}), who also produced the G3 Hobart Cup runner-up Andrea Mantegna (Giant's Causeway).
Saturday, Navan, Ireland
IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF COMMITTED STAKES-Listed, €45,000, Navan, 4-26, 3yo, 5f 180yT, 1:13.12, sf.
1–WHISTLEJACKET (IRE), 136, c, 3, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Adventure Seeker (Fr) (SW & GSP-Fr, $155,312), by Bering (GB)
2nd Dam: American Adventure, by Miswaki
3rd Dam: All Along (Fr), by Targowice
(500,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Peter M Brant, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Camas Park, Lynch Bages & Summerhill (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €27,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, 9-4-3-0, $541,730. *Full to Little Big Bear (Ire), G1SW-Ire, GSW & G1SP-Eng, $549,583; and 1/2 to Andrea Mantegna (Giant's Causeway), GSP-Aus, $352,585.
2–Ides Of March (Ire), 134, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Nickname, by Scat Daddy. O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Brookdale Racing; B-Phoenix Thoroughbreds Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €9,000.
3–Sparkling Sea (Ire), 126, f, 3, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Titanium Sky (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €4,500.
Margins: HF, HD, 4HF. Odds: 1.25, 4.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Midnight Strike (Ire), Cowardofthecounty (Ire), Pedro Nunes. Scratched: Bodhi Bear (Ire).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
