Legendary jockey uncovers next Aidan O’Brien superstar after spotting ‘impressive’ post-race antics
DERBY-WINNING jockey Martin Dwyer might have just uncovered the next Aidan O’Brien superstar – after spotting his ‘impressive’ post-race antics.
Delacroix went down as the winner of an Irish maiden at the Curragh last weekend but all eyes were drawn to the second.
Acapulco Bay was full of himself after finishing second on debut to Aidan O’Brien’s other runner Delacroix… and iconic ex-jockey Martin Dwyer reckons it bodes well for the future
And even more so when Racing TV pundit Dwyer saw what he did after the race.
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Ryan Moore, predictably, picked to ride the winner but it was Wayne Lordan on the runner-up who looked to be on the horse with the most potential.
Acapulco Bay was making his debut for the Ballydoyle handler and running in the claret and blue Coolmore and Westerberg silks.
A two-year-old colt by Dubawi out of Galileo mare Je Ne Regretterien, he was obviously bred to be useful.
But he looked a potential monster after giving Lordan a huge battle after the post.
Acapulco Bay finished strongly but simply could not be pulled up.
He looked totally full of running and like he could have gone round again as he yanked and yanked his head, almost removing Lordan’s arms from their sockets.
Dwyer, who had more than 1,500 career winners and won the 2006 Derby on Sir Percy, could not believe what he was seeing.
And the shrewd judge said: “The last horse I saw finish like this at the Curragh was the mighty City Of Troy.”
The same City Of Troy was smashed all others as a two-year-old before going onto win the Derby and Coral-Eclipse this year.
But it was what happened after the finish that really left Dwyer excited for the future.
He said: “Look at Acapulco Bay! Look how much ground he makes up. His finishing speed is pretty impressive.
“He gets so close to the winner. And even after the line he’s more or less passed out his stablemate.
“We see Wayne Lordan… he’s just trying to steady up because you know you’re going to run into these boards in a minute.
“Look at him! He’s still pulling for his head! He’s still full of running at the end of that race.
“Wayne is having to try to play with the bit through his mouth to steady him up because the boards are coming up quickly.
“He ends up overtaking his stablemate and he’s almost run into the boards.
“I just thought this was a very impressive run.”
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