Acapulco shines on first start for Aidan O’Brien

Acapulco won at Royal Ascot in 2015 and is set for another appearance at the meeting. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Acapulco’s days on the racecourse are numbered – she is in foal to Galileo – but she enhanced her King’s Stand Stakes claims with victory in the Sole Power Sprint Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

The flying filly, having her first start for Aidan O’Brien, was a brilliant juvenile when trained in America by Wesley Ward, winning the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot in 2015 and finishing runner-up to Mecca’s Angel in the Nunthorpe.

Donnacha O’Brien, her jockey, said: “She was a bit lazy today, but when I gave her a squeeze she quickened up nicely. It’s a lovely start.”

Waiting for Acapulco in the first race in the sprint category of the QIPCO British Champions Series could be Signs Of Blessing and Profitable, who fought out the finish of the Prix de Saint-Georges at Deauville 24 hours earlier.

Meanwhile, Fabrice Chappet enjoyed his first Group One winner as a trainer when Precieuse foiled British raider Sea Of Grace in a tight finish to the French 1000 Guineas at Deauville on Saturday.

Chappet instantly identified Royal Ascot as a likely next target for his filly.

He said “We will now think about the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. That looks an obvious race.”

Sea Of Grace is likely to head next to the Irish 1000 Guineas.