Blackbeard Continues No Nay Never’s Stellar Season In Prix Morny
No Nay Never’s domination of the top juvenile contests continued on Sunday, when Blackbeard (2c No Nay Never - Muirin, by Born To Sea) captured the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge won his first three career starts, two of which came at Stakes level, and was last seen running out a commanding winner of the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin. Reunited with Ryan Moore on Sunday, the bay disputed the lead for much of the way and was shaken up passing the two furlong marker. Asserting soon after, he kept on well under pressure to deny July Stakes winner Persian Force by half a length, while stablemate The Antarctic took third.
Speaking after the race, the in-form O’Brien said, “He's a proper early, fast and mature two-year-old. He jumps, he takes loads of racing and I couldn't be happier with him.” O’Brien celebrated a Group 2 double at the Curragh the previous day, with both winners by No Nay Never, and he was quick to acknowledge the sire on Sunday. “Like all the No Nay Nevers, Blackbeard has a lot of speed and is very precocious.”
Sunday marked a 100th Group 1 success for the partnership of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, who won the first juvenile Group 1 of the season with the hugely impressive Little Big Bear (No Nay Never).
Bred by Newstead Breeding, Blackbeard is owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Westerberg. Bought as a foal for 270,000gns, he is the first foal out of useful performer Muirin, whose No Nay Never filly is catalogued at next month’s Goffs Orby Sale.