Friday, 26 April 2019: I’d imagine he’s a Norfolk horse’

Trainer - Aidan O'Brien

Pistoletto  stamped himself as Royal Ascot material with an impressive winning debut at Tipperary.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained War Front colt was an 11-10 favourite for the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and the result was scarcely in doubt.

After a smart start, Pistoletto was soon tracking American Lady in a group of three runners that raced towards the stands side.

While his seven rivals were being ridden along racing inside the final two furlongs, the Ballydoyle inmate was still full of running and shot clear once given his head to score by five and a half lengths.

American Lady boxed on to finish second ahead of Ampeson in third.

Winning rider Donnacha O’Brien said: “He is fast and has plenty boot for five (furlongs). I’d imagine he’s a Norfolk (Stakes, at Royal Ascot) horse.

“He is a beautiful looking horse and is mature and always showed plenty at home.

“He probably has a little more boot than the lad (Fort Myers) who won at Dundalk (on Wednesday night) and is a smart horse.”

O’Brien was also on the mark with the Seamie Heffernan-ridden Sir Dragonet in the Fundraising Events At Tipperary Races Maiden.

The choicely-bred Camelot colt was sent off at 14-1, but looked distinctly useful in accounting for Zarafshan by three lengths.

O’Brien said: “He is a very well-bred horse, is out of Sparrow and has a Galileo pedigree. He has been there a while, but has obviously been sleeping and that can happen sometimes. That’s why we get them out, just in case that is the way, but it’s nice to find him.

“A horse with a pedigree like that could be anything. He is in the King Edward in Ascot and we’ll see where we go.”

He added of Pistoletto: “The first winner has plenty speed and we were delighted with him. Donnacha thought he was a smart horse.”