Whistlejacket Primed for Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh
Aiden O’Brien’s Whistlejacket is all set to take on Group One action in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh this Saturday. The chestnut son of No Nay Never, who is a full-brother to Little Big Bear, has been in impressive form this season.
After finishing runner-up on his debut, Whistlejacket went on to win the Listed First Flier earlier in the year. At Royal Ascot, he finished fourth in the five-furlong Norfolk Stakes, but he bounced back to take the Group Two July Stakes at Newmarket last month, relishing the step up to six furlongs.
“Whistlejacket will run there, that’s the plan. Everything is good with him and that’s always been the plan for him,” said trainer Aiden O’Brien.
That impressive July Stakes victory has been further boosted by the subsequent success of the third-placed horse, Aomori City, who landed the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.
O’Brien also provided an update on Kyprios, the brilliant Goodwood Cup winner who is bound for the Irish St Leger in a bid to regain the title he won in 2022, missing out by only three-quarters of a length last year in a remarkable performance following nearly a year on the sidelines.
“He’s very good. It’s six weeks to the Curragh so that’s probably where we’ll go,” O’Brien said. “We just want to keep him safe, get through the rest of the year and get to next year with him.”
Meanwhile, Derby and Eclipse hero City Of Troy remains on course for the Juddmonte International at York’s Ebor meeting, with O’Brien confirming:
“At the moment everything is going good and that’s where we’re going.”
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