VINTAGE CAPRI MOTORS HOME O’Brien lands 12th Irish Derby success
And in the process, he left the picture even muddier as to where the power really lies among this current crop of middle- distance three-year-olds. Sent of f far f r om unsupported at 6-1, the grey Galileo colt was one of five runners for trainer Aidan O’Brien, w i t h Rya n M o o r e unsurprisingly opting to ride Investec Derby winner and f avourite Wings Of Eagles.
That allowed Heffernan to take the mount on Capri, in whom he had kept faith despite defeat at Epsom.
A strong pace was always guaranteed and it was The Anvil who set the early gallop for the Coolmore team under Ana O’Brien.
With stablemates Douglas Macarthur and Taj Mahal also in pursuit, along with Capri, they appeared to have lined the race up for Wings Of Eagles turning for home. JASON HEAVEY However, Moore was pushing along from a fair way out, as was Pat Smullen aboard Cracksman, as they tried to reel Heffernan in.
Cracksman flew down the outside in the final furlong, with Wings Of Eagles between the two but Capri, who finished sixth in the Derby at Epsom, dug deep to give Heffernan a third win in the race and O’Brien a 12th Irish Derby victory.
French raider Waldgeist did not enjoy the best of passages for trainer Andre Fabre and jockey PierreCharles Boudot and finished close up in fourth.
O’Brien said: “I was always a great believer in this horse.
“Even after Epsom, Seamus wanted to come here and ride him.
“We know he gets a mile and a half and we know he’s brave. Seamus had a lovely position through the race.
“I thought he gave him a brilliant ride.
“Wings Of Eagles 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.”