Whistlejacket
Whistlejacket only finished sixth in the Commonwealth Cup on Friday, but he didn't have an awful lot of luck through the race. Held up back in the field early on by Ryan Moore, he was still travelling well on the run to the two-furlong marker as most of his rivals were coming under a ride, but he didn't have a lot of racing room. His rider explored a couple of different avenues, but they all closed and, by the time he got into the clear, his winning chance had gone. Even so, there was a lot to like about the manner in which he finished off his race to take sixth place, closest at the finish. He was second fastest through the final furlong, second only behind the winner Time For Sandals.
Winner of the July Stakes and the Prix Morny last season as a juvenile, Aidan O'Brien's horse looked good in winning a listed race on his first run at three at Naas in April on soft ground. He was beaten by Babouche next time at Naas, but Babouche is a high-class filly, a Group 1 winner last season, and Ryan Moore reported that Whistlejacket banged his head off the stalls before that race, which may have negatively impacted his performance on the day. There could be much more to come from him this season on this evidence, and he may be under-rated now in the best sprints on the back of this defeat.
Ascot, 20th June 2025
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