Acapulco Bay

3yo c Dubawi – Je Ne Regretterien

(Aidan O’Brien)

Acapulco Bay showed sufficient promise in his two starts as a juvenile to suggest that he can take high order among the leading middle-distance horses in 2025.

By Dubawi, out of a full sister to Group 1 winners Chicquita and Magic Wand, he made an eye-catching debut at the Curragh in mid-August, when running on very strongly from the rear of the field, in what was a steadily run race, to take the runner-up spot behind his stable companion, the subsequently Group 1-placed colt Delacroix.

Reappearing three weeks later at the same venue and despite not looking suited by a change to front-running tactics, he nonetheless dispatched two subsequent maiden winners in efficient fashion.

Likely to be suited by a strong gallop and hold-up tactics, he looks open to significant progress when stepped up in trip this year.

Chantez

3yo f Wootton Bassett – Lady Lara

(Ger Lyons)

Chantez showed enough in her three starts as a two-year-old to suggest that she could compete at the highest level alongside several of the more high-profile fillies that will represent her yard as three-year-olds in 2025.

All three of her runs were at Leopardstown over 7fs and following a fine debut effort when just touched off in a maiden by the subsequently Group 1-placed filly Exactly, she made no mistake six weeks later when romping to an easy success. She ended the year in style when defeating seven previous winners, including the subsequent Group 2 Rockfel Stakes winner Bubbling, with a little in hand in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes.

By Wootton Bassett, she is a half-sister to the King Edward VII Stakes winner Changingoftheguard, and having already emulated her dam as a Listed winner, she has bright prospects of stepping up further in grade on a sound surface.

Powerful Nation

3yo c Sioux Nation – Atlantic Queen

(Andy Slattery)

Although not renowned as a hotbed of talent in the sprint division, several high-class sprinters trained in Ireland have been able to make a mark at a high level in recent decades. Powerful Nation showed enough in his six-race juvenile campaign to suggest that he may be able to join that list in 2025 and be able to compete at the top table.

His three turf races culminated in a second placing at listed level before he turned his hand to the all-weather, ending the season with an unlucky defeat in a Group 3 race in October against older rivals.

The Sioux Nation colt is a powerful traveller who may not want to be in front for too long and like most sprinters, should improve with age and as he gains more experience. He looks well capable of leaving his 103 rating behind and is one to be excited about for this year and beyond.