By Sean Cronin
Aidan O'Brien's juvenile band is approaching full swing and the trainer's latest representative to hit the track, Coolmore and Westerberg's Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never), earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with a taking debut display in Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Navan. The 5 3/4-furlong dash was annexed last year by subsequent G3 Marble Hill S. runner-up, G2 Coventry S. fourth and G2 Railway S. third Masseto (GB) (Territories}) and Royal Ascot options abound for the half-brother to that meeting's Listed Windsor Castle S. hero Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) following a 2 1/4-length defeat of Tanaiyla (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}). The 7-4 second favourite was sharply into stride from the outside stall to stalk the experienced 10-11 favourite Midnight Toker (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in a close-up second through the early fractions. Nudged along at halfway, he came under increased urging once quickening to challenge passing the quarter-mile marker and found an additional gear inside the final furlong to go comfortably clear of his rivals.
“He's a very smart horse and has done all his homework very nicely,” commented Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong. “Aidan [O'Brien] was very happy with him and Ryan [Moore] has sat on him a few times and was very happy with him. We'll try and give him one run before [Royal] Ascot. It will either be in the valuable winners' race at Naas or there's a winners-of-one at the Curragh on June 1st. Then hopefully on to Ascot. Fingers crossed he is a very smart horse going forward. He's obviously from the family of Washington DC, who was a precocious 2-year-old, he's got plenty of options and is one you would love to have in your stable.”
Aesop's Fables is the latest of eight foals and sixth winner from as many runners produced by Listed Land O' Burns Fillies' S. third How's She Cuttin' (Ire) (Shinko Forest {Ire}), herself the leading performer out of a half-sister to the stakes-placed Escape Plan (Ire) (Key of Luck) and to the unraced dam of G3 Firth of Clyde S. victrix and G1 Cheveley Park S. runner-up Aspen Darlin (Ire) (Indian Haven {GB}). Hailing from the family of MG1SW sire Grand Lodge (Chief's Crown), the February-foaled bay is a half to G3 Phoenix Sprint S. victor and MG1SP sire Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and G3 Chester vase runner-up Sandhurst (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
1st-Navan, €16,000, Mdn, 4-23, 2yo, 5f 164yT, 1:14.10, gd.
AESOP'S FABLES (IRE), c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: How's She Cuttin' (Ire) (SP-Eng, $111,446), by Shinko Forest (Ire)
2nd Dam: Magic Annemarie (Ire), by Dancing Dissident
3rd Dam: Magic Garter (GB), by Precocious (GB)
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $10,366. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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