MIND THE CAP
Heffernan’s hero holds on for thrilling Derby win
THE Aidan O’brien-trained Capri bagged a thrilling Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby victory at The Curragh yesterday.
In a tremendous finish to the premier classic, the grey fought off John Gosden’s Cracksman by a neck with the Epsom hero Wings Of Eagles a short head away.
A third winner of the race for Seamie Heffernan, Capri was perfectly placed in second and then took over the lead early in the straight.
However, the race was far from over and Capri had to dig deep as he looked to be in big trouble a furlong from home.
At this stage Wings Of Eagles and the oncoming Cracksman were bearing down on the leader and looked as though they might find a way past.
Capri would not be denied though and he hit the line strongly to carry the day. “Seamie gave him a peach of a ride and he paced the race beautifully,” said O’brien as he sent out his 12th winner of the race. “Capri stays very well and gets the mile and a half well so you knew that he wasn’t going to wilt.
“It was a great race and all the right horses were there at the furlong pole which was good to see.”
In terms of the future, Capri might now have a break while the winning trainer was also happy with Wings Of Eagles. O’brien added: “Capri had has quite a busy season already so I’ll talk to the lads and he might now go on a break before the autumn.
“Wings Of Eagles ran well but the stiff mile and a half might just have stretched him. He did show a lot of pace when he won at Epsom.”
The remainder of the card saw Gordon Elliott bag his first victory at pattern level as Beckford landed the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes.
The trainer’s first two-year-old winner was stepping up sharply in class but duly delivered on his highly promising debut victory in May. The Declan Mcdonogh-ridden Beckford kept on strongly over the last furlong to deny the impressive maiden winner Verbal Dexterity by a length. Elliott now intends to step Beckford up to the highest level for next month’s Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes. Earlier Only Mine (left) notched up her first win for 13 months as she claimed the Listed sprint. The Joe Murphy inmate battled on well over the last furlong to deny old rival Gordon Lord Byron. Meanwhile, a Group 3 at Fairyhouse on Wednesday evening is the target for Aidan O’brien’s Asking following her win in the fillies handicap. The day’s other stakes race saw Johnny Murtagh’s True Valour bag the Listed Celebration Stakes just 10 days after a creditable run at Ascot.