Coolmore pair raring to go, following Committed '1-2' Group 1-winning juvenile Whistlejacket (5/4f) scored on seasonal reappearance today, leading home an Aidan O’Brien-trained ‘1-2’ under jockey Ryan Moore, in Navan’s Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes. Carrying the colours of Peter Brant and the Coolmore partners, Whistlejacket won Deauville’s top-level Prix Morny last August and on today’s reappearance, made hard work of edging past pace-setting stablemate Ides Of March, for a half-length win. Never-nearer and third-placed Sparking Sea finished well on her own seasonal reappearance. O'Brien reported "we thought both horses were just about ready to start and wanted to hopefully get two runs into him before Ascot. The plan was to come here, go to Naas and then go for the Commonwealth Cup (Royal Ascot). "Ryan was very happy with his horse, said he didn't get any cover and got a little bit tired but he was very happy with him. He said he didn't want to get into a barging match when he was needing the run and didn't want to blow him up at that stage, so he did the right thing and took his time." Regarding runner-up Ides Of March, he added "you would be delighted with him too. 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.” 'Whistlejacket' is a famous painting by George Stubbs, depicting a rearing racehorse of the same name. Quotes from Michael Graham
