Whistlejacket (11/10 Favourite) may have been the only odds-on favourite to have been beaten at Royal Ascot last month when fourth in the Norfolk Stakes but showed what he is truly capable of when coming home the impressive winner of the Group Two Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes on day one of The July Festival, Ladies Day, at Newmarket today.

Partnered by Ryan Moore, the two-year-old No Nay Never colt took the lead entering the final furlong and ran on strongly for a length and three quarters success over Billboard Star (13/2). It was a third success in the six-furlong contest for trainer Aidan O’Brien following Ivan Denisovich (2005) and Royal Lytham (2019). 

Ryan Moore said: “He is obviously still a bit raw and is still learning. It was a good performance – he has given away a bit of ground in the last furlong and gone a long way ahead. He is a fast horse and I think there is a bit more in there which gives us hope for the rest of the year.”

Paul Smith, son of Derrick and Gay Smith who own the colt in partnership with Peter Brant, Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor, added: “He did it well and we are very happy with him. He probably learnt a lot at Ascot – he was a little bit green that day.

“Ryan was super happy with him during the race and I think he did it well. He appreciated the step up to six furlongs with the cut in the ground – it worked well.

“He has always found his work very easy at home and has ticked most of the boxes so we were very hopeful. He ran a good race when fourth at Royal Ascot and probably learnt a lot, which he showed on the track today.

The big stage

“We will probably look at something like the Prix Morny or Phoenix Stakes for him now (the Prix Morny and Phoenix Stakes are both Group 1 races).”

The opening Group Three Bahrain Trophy is one of the first trials for the Betfred St Leger and Ancient Wisdom (6/4 Favourite) is likely to be heading to Doncaster following an all the way victory in the mile and five furlongs contest. Godolphin’s three-year-old Dubawi colt was a Group 1 winner last season and today saw him bounce back to form following a second in the Dante Stakes and an eighth in the Betfred Derby earlier in 2024.

Successful trainer Charlie Appleby, who was winning the Bahrain Trophy for the third time in four years following Yibir (2021) and Castle Way (2023), commented: “I am delighted. We were quietly confident as he was the class horse in the race and was racing on ground that we know he relishes. No disrespect to the horses he has been campaigning against, but this horse takes it to another level on slower conditions. We encountered that today and felt the step up in trip was always going to suit.

“The plan from here is to head to the Voltigeur if the ground is right and plan our way to the St Leger. He is an autumn horse and we won’t jeopardise that by running him on unsuitable ground.

“I still feel this horse is not 100 per cent there yet. He is coming. He isn’t where he was when he won the Autumn Stakes and backed up two weeks’ later in the Futurity last season, so I was impressed with him today and hoping that there is still improvement under the bonnet.

A very live chance

“If the ground is like it can be at that time of year at Doncaster (for the St Leger) then I think he would have a very live chance.”

William Buick added: “On today’s ground we have got him back on track. In the Dante and the Derby, he was put under a lot of pressure. Today, with it being a small field he was able to get in his comfort zone and have a real good experience. Credit to the team for getting him back here today.

“I think he is a horse who stays well. There is a fair way to go yet but you would imagine he could develop into a St Leger horse.

“It’s no secret that the ground is the key to him and I felt today there was plenty left in the tank. It’s onwards and upwards.

“It’s beautiful ground today and has taken the rain really well – I live up the road and there was a load of rain. It’s just on the easy side of Good and is only going to improve.”

In our hearts

Ladies Day at The July Festival opened with a minute’s silence in support of commentator John Hunt and his family following the tragic news yesterday that his wife Carol and daughters Hannah and Louise had been killed at their home in Hertfordshire.

Appleby added: “Our thoughts from everyone in racing and at Godolphin are all with John Hunt and his family. It was a very sad day yesterday.”