Capri shines for O’Brien’s dozen
AIDAN O’BRIEN notched a 12th win in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby as perceived stable second-string Capri claimed the Curragh Classic.
All eyes were on stablemate and 2-1 favourite Wings Of Eagles, who was bidding to complete a Derby double following his Epsom victory last month and was the choice of Ryan Moore.
The John Gosden-trained Cracksman, third at Epsom, was another leading player for Pat Smullen along with André Fabre’s Waldgeist, but all were trumped by Capri and Séamie Heffernan.
Sent off a 6-1 shot, the grey Galileo colt was one of five runners for O’Brien and after The Anvil had performed the early pacemaking duties, it appeared the race was perfectly lined up for Wings Of Eagles.
However, Capri got first run on them, kicking on around two furlongs from home, and while Cracksman and Wings Of Eagles finished with purpose, Heffernan’s game partner won by a neck and a short head, respectively.
Capri, who finished sixth in the Derby at Epsom, was giving Heffernan a third win in the race.
The Ballydoyle handler said: ‘I was always a great believer in this horse. Even after Epsom, Séamus wanted to come here and ride him. We know that he gets a mile-and-a-half and we know that he’s brave. Séamus had a lovely position through the race.
‘I thought Séamus gave him a brilliant ride. He paced it brilliantly. He had a target there and he knew the field was coming behind him but he timed it to perfection.’
O’Brien was not too disappointed with the effort from Wings Of Eagles, but felt he had perhaps lacked stamina when it really mattered.
He added: ‘He ran very well and came there to go, but maybe a tough mile and a half might be as far as he wants to go − he might have just been outstayed.
‘He showed a mile-and-a-quarter pace at Epsom, came down, sprinted and finished off very quickly.’
Capri is as low as 3-1 favourite to add to his Classic haul in the William Hill St Leger at Doncaster in September.
Heffernan said: ‘This horse has been competing in very good races all year and the Curragh suited him.
‘I was always comfortable in my position and we went a good gallop. He galloped all the way to the line. He stays well and tries hard. It’s great that he looks like he’s improving.’