Whistlejacket made to battle for Committed prize

Whistlejacket was made to work as he narrowly defeated stablemate Ides Of March in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes at Navan.

Last year’s Prix Morny winner was the 5-4 favourite under Ryan Moore as his Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate started a 4-1 chance under Wayne Lordan for the six-furlong Listed event.

The discrepancy in price was perhaps not reflected by the half-length margin by which Whistlejacket won, but O’Brien was still pleased with both horses ahead of bigger targets.

He said: “Delighted. We thought both of them were just about ready to start. We wanted to hopefully get two runs into him before Ascot.

“The plan was to come here and then go to Naas and then go for the Commonwealth (Cup).

“Ryan was very happy with his horse, he said he didn’t get any cover and got a little bit tired but he was very happy with him.

“Ryan said he didn’t want to get into a barging match when he was needing the run, he didn’t want to blow him up at that stage, so he did the right thing and took his time on him.”

On Ides Of March, O’Brien added: “You would be delighted with him. I thought the ground was way too soft for him, he’s a very good mover and he’s way better on fast ground.

“He’s a good traveller, a high cruiser and he doesn’t lie down easily. I’m delighted with both really.”

O’Brien’s Charles Darwin got off the mark with an effortless victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Navan.

The two-year-old is a full brother to Blackbeard, a dual Group One winner, but was beaten into fourth place on his debut in a Curragh maiden earlier in the month.

With that experience under his belt, he lined up the 8-11 favourite under Moore on his second start and success never looked in doubt, as he stepped up to six furlongs and won by five and a half lengths.

O’Brien said: “He’s lovely – a big, powerful, strong horse. We always thought he was an Ascot horse.

“He was very green in the Curragh and the race was a bit messy.

“He did (do everything right today), he travelled and he has loads of speed. He quickened very well.”

When asked if he could be a Coventry Stakes horse, O’Brien added: “I’d say obviously Coventry or Norfolk. He’s not short of speed.”

O’Brien’s eldest son Joseph was also in the money as Wemightakedlongway (15-2) outlined her potential Classic claims in the Group Three Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes.

A two-and-three-quarter-length winner under Dylan Browne McMonagle, Wemighttakedlongway is a 25-1 shot with sponsor Betfred for the Oaks, although Epsom is not a definite target.

The trainer said: “She has won impressively. She’s a smart filly.

“The Pretty Polly is the race we are really building towards. She is out of a No Nay Never mare and she just wouldn’t be guaranteed to go a mile and a half.

“We will see whether we have a look at Epsom or whether we look at something else before the Pretty Polly.”