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Aidan O'Brien landed a third Group 2 Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes when Whistlejacket struck under Ryan Moore.

Aidan O'Brien's colt created a taking impression in Listed company at the Curragh back in May and was subsequently sent off the 10/11 favourite for the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The son of No Nay Never could only manage to finish fourth on that occasion, but he soon proved what he was capable of when staying on strongly on his first outing over six furlongs on the July Course on Thursday afternoon.

Always towards the fore under a confident Ryan Moore, Aidan O'Brien's colt quickened up nicely when meeting the rising ground to take a few lengths out of his rivals. Eve Johnson Houghton's course and distance winner Billboard Star set off in hot pursuit, but he never looked like closing the gap on the eventual winner, who despite hanging left-handed in the closing stages, would go on to score by a snug one-and-three-quarter lengths.

Charlie Appleby's Nottingham debut scorer Aomari City emerged with plenty of credit back in third.

A step up to Group 1 company now looks on the cards for the winner, with Coolmore's representative Paul Smith indicating both the Prix Morny and Phoenix Stakes are potential targets.

"He did it well and we're very happy with him. He probably learnt a lot at Ascot, and he was a little bit green that day, but I think he has appreciated the step up to six and a little cut in the ground and it worked well," explained Smith.

"He's always found work very easy at home and ticked many of the boxes, so we were very hopeful. He ran a good race at Ascot and came fourth. He learnt a lot and that showed on the track today.

"I think we will look at something like the Prix Morny or the Phoenix Stakes, those two races come to mind."

Ryan Moore agreed that the colt appreciated stepping up to six furlongs and expects him to continue to progress throughout the campaign.

He said: "Obviously Ascot was good to firm and today is good to soft, but it's not too bad at all. Perhaps the extra furlong is more probably significant (than ground).

"He didn't run a bad race at Ascot, he wasn't beaten far and as you saw today, it's his fourth race and he's still racing green. I think he's a smart colt and he will have to step up again, but he has class.

"He's just a little bit of a raw horse still, a big, big boy. He does his work quite easily at home. He's a fast horse and I think we will probably stay at six furlongs for the time being."

Paddy Power cut the winner to 25/1 (from 50s) for next year's 2000 Guineas.