Acapulco and Donnacha O'Brien lead home Ardhoomey and Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
Acapulco made the perfect start to her career with Aidan O'Brien, as she took the feature at the Curragh this afternoon, the Listed Sole Power Sprint Stakes.
The daughter of Scat Daddy, who was a brilliant winner of the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2015, won twice in her native America last year, finishing sixth on her most recent effort at Santa Anita in November.
Now in-foal to Galileo and fitted with a hood, she was sent off the 11/8 favourite today, with Donnacha O'Brien in the saddle.
Settled in mid-division, she was pushed along with under two furlongs to race, and hit the front inside the final furlong, keeping on well from there to score by half a length. Ardhoomey (7/2) ran on well to take second under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons, while Willytheconqueror (12/1) was another half a length back in third under Martin Dwyer for William Muir.
Donnacha O'Brien said afterwards: "At home we were trying to get her to relax and that's what the hood was all about. She was a bit lazy today but when I gave her a squeeze she quickened up nicely.
"I think when we take the hood off her she'll step up again. It's a lovely start.
"It was perfect for her first day, let her relax and enjoy it, so it worked."
Aidan and Donnacha O'Brien were of course completing a double on the card, having earlier took the opener with Actress
Paddy Power go 4/1 from 6's about Acapulco for the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
STEWARDS REPORT
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Just Glamorous trained by Ronald Harris (in GB) was noted to have lost a right fore shoe post race.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
