Aesop's Fables continues Ballydoyle domination of Futurity

Aesop’s Fables added to Aidan O’Brien’s great record in the Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes when overcoming an absence of four months to take the Group 2 feature at the Curragh.

The son of No Nay Never, sidelined since making a successful debut at Navan in April, was providing the master of Ballydoyle with his 15th victory in the seven-furlong test and an eighth in the past decade.

Stablemate Hans Andersen looked a more likely winner when asserting over a furlong out but was reeled in by Ryan Moore’s mount in the final 100 yards.

The pair were separated by two-and-a-quarter-lengths at the line with the always prominent 5/4 favourite Proud And Regal a neck further back in third.

O’Brien said, “He had a little setback after winning at Navan and was a long time off. He’s a big, strong powerful horse and is built like a sprinter.

“He travelled well and I was a bit worried going up to seven. 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.” Aesop's Fables was cut into 14/1 (from 33/1) for next year's 2000 Guineas with Paddy Power and Betfair.