By Tom Frary
Odds of 2-11 in The Curragh's opening maiden on Saturday said it all about the regard in which Acapulco Bay (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Je Ne Regretterien {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) is held at Ballydoyle and the blueblood duly delivered while appearing to do the bare minimum to make it TDN Rising Star number 43 for his illustrious sire. Such an eye-catcher when closing from behind to be second to the stable's fellow TDN Rising Star Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) over seven furlongs here three weeks ago, the relative of Magic Wand (Ire) et al was quickly away this time in contrast to his debut and able to sit in front and allow Ryan Moore to control affairs.
Pushed out to assert from the two-furlong pole, the Westerberg colour-bearer had opened up a 1 3/4-length margin over another Rosegreen runner in Genealogy (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at the line. That 400,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 relative of Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) was in turn 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Flaxman Stables' Joseph O'Brien-trained Emit (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who had trailed another TDN Rising Star in Hill Road (Quality Road) on debut at Leopardstown last month.
“He was very green in front–the last day he came from behind and Ryan said he never really picked up the bridle at all today,” Aidan O'Brien said of Acapulco Bay, the 11th TDN Rising Star among the stable's juveniles in 2024. “He felt that he was in second gear the whole time. He didn't go forward and engage at all, but it was just stage fright and he is a lovely horse who will have no problem stepping up in trip and with an ease in the ground.”
“Some are just happy to follow and he's not a natural leader, so obviously he's going to be a horse that will take his time in a good race. We saw what he did the last day over seven, when he came flashing home,” he added of the winner, who adds his name to a list that includes the stable's future Group 1 winners Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Saxon Warrior (Jpn). “I'd say he's quicker than he looked today.”
Of the runner-up Genealogy, who ran a race of similar promise to that of the winner on his debut, O'Brien added, “Wayne loved him–he was very fit and is a powerful horse to look forward to. He has done plenty of work and has been there a long time, working all the time, but he's just been asleep.”
Acapulco Bay is the first foal out of the G3 Prix de Royaumont third Je Ne Regretterien, a full-sister to the stable's G1 MacKinnon Stakes heroine and general top-flight stalwart Magic Wand (Ire) whose 2-year-old daughter Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) also recently earned TDN Rising Star status. She is a half to the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), whose daughter of Dubawi Emily Dickinson (Ire) took the G2 Curragh Cup and was second in the G1 Goodwood Cup and who also produced the G1 Irish Oaks third Nicest (Ire) (American Pharoah). Je Ne Regretterien's filly foal is by Wootton Bassett (GB).
The listed-winning second dam Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) is also responsible for another notable by Dubawi in the G3 Prix Penelope winner and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Philomene (Ire), while the esteemed Fittocks Stud family of Alexandrova (Ire) et al includes last year's G2 Debutante Stakes winner and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes runner-up Vespertilio (Fr) by Dubawi's Night Of Thunder (Ire), who was third in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches this term.
1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 8-31, 2yo, 8fT, 1:41.77, gd.
ACAPULCO BAY (IRE), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Je Ne Regretterien (GB) (GSP-Fr), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Prudenzia (Ire), by Dansili (GB)
3rd Dam: Platonic (GB), by Zafonic
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $17,319. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree
O-Westerberg,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith; B-Westerberg (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien.
No mistake this time 🥇
Acapulco Bay, who holds multiple Group-race entries, makes just about all the running to open his account at the second time of asking.
Stablemate Genealogy, who impressed @Ruby_Walsh in the paddock, shaped nicely in second.@curraghrace pic.twitter.com/y9c5XWSKeC
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 31, 2024
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