O'Brien filly Simply Astounding in debut victory The Aidan O'Brien trained Simply Astounding made a winning racecourse debut when landing the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Naas. A half-sister to unbeaten juvenile Henry Longfellow, the daughter of Wootton Bassett was well fancied to make an immediate impact on her first appearance. Sent off 11/8f, the Ryan Moore partnered filly tracked the early pace as Luna Beaux and Salacious took the runners along. Moving up to dispute over two furlongs out, Simply Astounding soon headed Salacious, before asserting from well over a furlong out. Cape Sounion emerged from the chasing pack to get within one-and-a-quarter lengths of the winner at the finish but Simply Astounding kept on strongly. Aidan O’Brien, “She’s a very nice filly. “She might come back here for the fillies race (Group 3 on May 18) and then the Albany. That’s the same plan we had with Fairy Godmother (second in this maiden) last year. “She’s very smart and very natural.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
