Champion Trainer Aidan O'Brien has made a blistering start to the new Flat season and sent out Roly Poly to make a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden at Naas today.

Ridden by Seamus Heffernan, the daughter of War Front and out of Group 1 winner Misty For Me, moved into contention inside the final furlong and in the end edged out Gone To Russia by a short head.

O'Brien was officially sending out his 24th winner of the season, although soon-to-be-licensed son Joseph O'Brien is responsible for some, and he later stated “you'd have to be delighted with that. She was very green and just ready to come racing.

“Seamie gave her a brilliant ride and nursed her along. He only gave her one little backhand flick.

“Hopefully she'll progress really nicely from that and she could be an Ascot filly. She's quick.

“It's lovely ground out there and this is a lovely place to start them.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson