Willie McCreery seems to have an exciting two-year-old filly in his yard after Al Shira'aa Farms' Vespertilio (Night Of Thunder) turned in an impressive performance for Billy Lee to capture Saturday's seven-furlong Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes in good style at the Curragh.

The McCreery-trained €320,000 Arqana Deauville August purchase was held up in last early by a confident Lee. Still on the bridle, she was produced to pounce on the leaders a furlong out, the 4/1 shot made her ground easily and surged into the clear to score by a length and three-quarters lengths from Sakti with two and three-quarters lengths back to Kalispera in third, with the field well strung out and the first two from the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot proving disappointing. Pearls And Rubies went off the 13/8 favourite but faded to fifth while Chesham winner Snellen finished last of the eight.

The win was also providing a boost to the winner’s Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes conqueror Ylang Ylang as she had been a length and a half second to her at Leopardstown last month.

“That was lovely. She ran a lovely race the last day,” winning trainer Willie McCreery told the PA.

“Billy apologised for sitting back last, he didn't want to sit that far back but he said she just got squeezed early and got lit up for a few strides so he just wanted to settle her.

“They were going a good gallop along and he was happy with her the whole way. She took him into the race beautifully and quickened up lovely."