TDN RISING STARS

April 25, 2019 - TIPPERARY, Msw, EUR €15,000, 5.0F, .0000

Pistoletto, C, 2, 2017 by War Front

1st Dam: Lerici, by Woodman
2nd Dam: Balinese, by Nijinsky II
3rd Dam: Homespun, by Round Table

Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier
Breeder: Tada Nobutaka
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

Backed down to short-odds favouritism to continue the hot streak of Aidan O’Brien’s juvenile band, Pistoletto (War Front) gave supporters little cause for concern and scooted clear of toiling rivals to earn ‘TDN Rising Star’ status with an impressive display in his Tipperary debut Thursday. He bounced out of the gates to stalk the pace in second overall racing in a near-side group of three. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle from halfway, the 11-10 pick cruised to the front approaching the final furlong and quickened right away under minimal coaxing in the closing stages to hit the line 5 1/2 lengths ahead of American Lady (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). “He is certainly fast and has plenty boot for five furlongs,� insisted Donnacha O’Brien. “I’d imagine he’s a [June 20 G2] Norfolk [S. at Royal Ascot] type. He is a beautiful looking horse, he’s mature and has always showed plenty at home. He probably has a little more boot than Fort Myers, who won at Dundalk last night, and he is a smart horse.�
   Pistoletto, out of a winning half-sister to the dam of GSW GI Travers S. second Grasshopper (Dixie Union), is a full-brother to GI Rodeo Drive S. victress Avenge and a 2019 foal. The bay, also half to stakes-winning GIII Herecomesthebride S. runner-up Lira (Giant’s Causeway), is from a family featuring MG1SW sires Mark of Esteem (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and Mashaallah (Nijinsky II).