Latest news with #Whistlejacket
Glasgow Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Keane delighted to see Babouche bounce back to form
The Ger Lyons-trained filly had beaten the colts in the Phoenix Stakes as a two-year-old but did not repeat that form in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket or on her return to action this season at Cork. With the benefit of that run under her belt, she needed to take a big step forward up against Aidan O'Brien's Whistlejacket but she did so, oozing class to win by two and three-quarter lengths. 'It was great to see her back. She went to Cork and we knew she'd need it,' said Keane. 'She ran OK, she ran well without getting carried away but she did need to improve taking on Aidan's colt. 'Her last couple of bits of work between Cork and Naas were nice but she felt back to her old self. 'I suppose the conversation, having won a Group One last year – which was a great thing to have done – we weren't sure if she was going to train on. If she wasn't up to doing something like she did at Naas, there maybe would have been a conversation to have, so to see her do that was great.' Babouche is now 5-1 second-favourite for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot behind Shadow Of Light.
North Wales Chronicle
21-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Keane delighted to see Babouche bounce back to form
The Ger Lyons-trained filly had beaten the colts in the Phoenix Stakes as a two-year-old but did not repeat that form in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket or on her return to action this season at Cork. With the benefit of that run under her belt, she needed to take a big step forward up against Aidan O'Brien's Whistlejacket but she did so, oozing class to win by two and three-quarter lengths. 'It was great to see her back. She went to Cork and we knew she'd need it,' said Keane. 'She ran OK, she ran well without getting carried away but she did need to improve taking on Aidan's colt. 'Her last couple of bits of work between Cork and Naas were nice but she felt back to her old self. 'I suppose the conversation, having won a Group One last year – which was a great thing to have done – we weren't sure if she was going to train on. If she wasn't up to doing something like she did at Naas, there maybe would have been a conversation to have, so to see her do that was great.' Babouche is now 5-1 second-favourite for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot behind Shadow Of Light.
South Wales Guardian
21-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Keane delighted to see Babouche bounce back to form
The Ger Lyons-trained filly had beaten the colts in the Phoenix Stakes as a two-year-old but did not repeat that form in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket or on her return to action this season at Cork. With the benefit of that run under her belt, she needed to take a big step forward up against Aidan O'Brien's Whistlejacket but she did so, oozing class to win by two and three-quarter lengths. 'It was great to see her back. She went to Cork and we knew she'd need it,' said Keane. 'She ran OK, she ran well without getting carried away but she did need to improve taking on Aidan's colt. 'Her last couple of bits of work between Cork and Naas were nice but she felt back to her old self. 'I suppose the conversation, having won a Group One last year – which was a great thing to have done – we weren't sure if she was going to train on. If she wasn't up to doing something like she did at Naas, there maybe would have been a conversation to have, so to see her do that was great.' Babouche is now 5-1 second-favourite for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot behind Shadow Of Light.
Powys County Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Keane delighted to see Babouche bounce back to form
Colin Keane was thrilled to see Babouche return to something like her best at Naas on Sunday. The Ger Lyons-trained filly had beaten the colts in the Phoenix Stakes as a two-year-old but did not repeat that form in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket or on her return to action this season at Cork. With the benefit of that run under her belt, she needed to take a big step forward up against Aidan O'Brien's Whistlejacket but she did so, oozing class to win by two and three-quarter lengths. 'It was great to see her back. She went to Cork and we knew she'd need it,' said Keane. 'She ran OK, she ran well without getting carried away but she did need to improve taking on Aidan's colt. 'Her last couple of bits of work between Cork and Naas were nice but she felt back to her old self. 'I suppose the conversation, having won a Group One last year – which was a great thing to have done – we weren't sure if she was going to train on. If she wasn't up to doing something like she did at Naas, there maybe would have been a conversation to have, so to see her do that was great.'
Leader Live
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Babouche back on song to set up Commonwealth Cup bid
Ger Lyons' filly was a Group One winner at two in the Phoenix Stakes, where she beat Whistlejacket, but had been below that form when beaten in the Cheveley Park and when disappointing on her return to action this season at Cork. With that run under her belt, though, she looked a different proposition in the hands of Colin Keane. She again faced Whistlejacket, who had scored on his seasonal debut and was sent off an odds-on favourite. However, Babouche (2-1) always looked to be travelling better and Ryan Moore was soon at work against the rail on Whistlejacket. Once Babouche was asked to quicken, she did so immediately and ran out a two-and-three-quarter-length winner from the favourite. She is now the 4-1 favourite for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot with Coral. 'That's the first time I've seen that this year from her,' said Lyons. 'I'm delighted with the team's performance. We sucked it up and we went to Cork, it wasn't the obvious right thing to do but it was the right thing to do for what I was seeing at home. 'We parked the reputation and the ego and we said 'right, go down there, you're going to get beat because it's a furlong too short for you. We've spent the whole spring trying to settle you down and doing it right'. Now she's back. 'Now we can go to the Commonwealth and if we get beat, we get beat, but at least we know we are locked and loaded. It's been a good day.' He went on: 'She's a Group One winner but she hasn't been doing that. I was delighted with what I've seen because it was a work in progress, but I needed to see that, otherwise we weren't going anywhere – we've won our Group One, so there's no point in carrying on. 'Now we can go off to the Commonwealth, it doesn't mean we'll win it but we're going there with a huge chance. 'When I saw him (Whistlejacket) in Navan and I saw her at home, I wasn't beating him, so then I said 'lads, we have to do something'. 'If I rock up in the Lacken without Cork, we wouldn't have done that. It's brilliant, it's worked. Sometimes we get it right!'
