Saturday saw Aesop’s Fables (2c No Nay Never – How’s She Cuttin’, by Shinko Forest) make a winning return to remain unbeaten in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt had been absent since April, when impressive on debut over just short of six furlongs. Stepping up to seven furlongs on return, he was held up behind the leaders by Ryan Moore and was pushed along two furlongs from home. Ridden soon after, he ran on well to lead inside the final furlong and went on to score by two and a quarter lengths.

Speaking after the race, O’Brien said, “He’s a big, strong powerful horse and is built like a sprinter. We’ll see how he comes out of this before deciding where we go next but you would have to be thinking Group 1 now. I would say he will progress a lot from this to his next run.”

Bred by Barronstown Stud, Aesop’s Fables is owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Westerberg. The son of No Nay Never is a half-brother to Royal Ascot winning-juvenile Washington DC, who was also placed at the highest level on three occasions.