Pistoletto impresses in season opener at Tipperary

The Aidan O'Brien trained newcomer Pistoletto ran out an impressive winner of the season opener at Tipperary, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The master of Ballydoyle has enjoyed a tremendous start to the season with his juveniles, and was also on the mark at Dundalk yesterday evening with Fort Myers.

Fort Myers is a son of War Front, and so too is Pistoletto, who is a full-brother to dual American Grade 1 winner Avenge.

As short as 8/11 in early shows, Pistoletto eventually went off the clear 11/10 favourite under Donnacha O'Brien.

The field for this five furlong contest split into two groups, with the three who were on the stands side coming home in first, second and third.

The bay victor was never far off the pace and held a definite advantage a furlong and half from home, quickening up smartly in the closing stages, scoring easily by five and a half lengths. American Lady (14/1) got up for second under Chris Hayes for Fozzy Stack, while Ampeson (12/1) was a further half a length back in third.

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

"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 last night and he is a smart horse."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes