After a blanket finish to the June 3 Derby (G1) at Epsom, Saturday’s Irish Derby (G1) produced another tight margin – in different order across the wire. Epsom sixth Capri turned the tables on Cracksman and Derby-winning stablemate Wings of Eagles, handing trainer Aidan O’Brien his 12th Irish Derby victory.
The Curragh’s rain-affected ground likely brought out the best in Capri, who had captured last year’s Beresford (G2) on heavy going here. His Galway maiden score and initial stakes coup in the Canford Cliffs at Tipperary likewise came on rain-softened courses, as did his third to Waldgeist as the odds-on favorite in the October 30 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1). A ring-rusty fourth upon his return in the April 8 Ballysax (G3), Capri was a near-miss third back at Leopardstown in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (G3) on good-to-firm. The gray Galileo colt encountered a similarly sound surface at Epsom, where he ran a creditable if one-paced sixth at odds of 16-1.
With conditions suiting on Saturday, Capri went off as the 6-1 fourth choice. Wings of Eagles, the 40-1 shocker at Epsom, was now the 2-1 favorite, on the strength of his Derby heroics that enticed Ryan Moore aboard. Cracksman, just denied as the Epsom third, was 3-1 along with aforementioned French invader Waldgeist.
The Anvil, the outsider of the O’Brien quintet, took up the pacemaking job in earnest and turned the 1 1/2-mile classic into a real stamina test on this ground. Capri, once again ridden by Seamie Heffernan, was well placed in a rail-skimming second, allowing him to make the most use of his staying capacity. Wings of Eagles was reserved at about midpack, not as far behind as at Epsom. Conversely, Cracksman raced further back for new rider Pat Smullen, subbing for the injured Frankie Dettori. Smullen later said he did not intend to be in that position, noting that Cracksman was “very babyish.” Waldgeist bided his time near the rear.
Capri launched his bid in the stretch and struck the front as Wings of Eagles, Waldgeist, and wide-traveling Cracksman also loomed into contention. Wings of Eagles couldn’t quite reel in the new leader, and Waldgeist flattened out, leaving Cracksman the final danger. Although the son of Frankel surged late, it was a fraction too late, and Capri held on by a neck. The final time of 2:35.45 reflects the going, labeled good-to-yielding (according to Sky Sports, At the Races, and Sporting Life).
The John Gosden-trained Cracksman edged Wings of Eagles for runner-up honors, preventing an O’Brien exacta. Waldgeist reported home a further 1 1/2 lengths astern in fourth. Next came the O’Brien duo of Douglas Macarthur, who had been in the fray in upper stretch, and Taj Mahal, followed by 100-1 longshot Dubai Sand, The Anvil, and Grandee.
Capri holds on in a thrilling finale to the Irish Derby and notches a Derby double for Aidan O’Brien: pic.twitter.com/RYGLphzrC1
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 1, 2017
Capri has joined O’Brien’s past Irish Derby winners, an honor roll commencing 20 years ago with Desert King (1997) and including seven in a row (2006-2012). Galileo emerged in 2001 and went on to sire five more Irish Derby winners, all trained by O’Brien – Soldier of Fortune (2007), Cape Blanco (2010), Treasure Beach (2011), and Australia (2014) prior to Capri. O’Brien’s other Irish Derby heroes are High Chaparral, like Galileo by Sadler’s Wells (2002); Dylan Thomas, like Desert King by Danehill (2006); and a trio by Sadler’s Wells’ son Montjeu in Frozen Fire (2008), Fame and Glory (2009), and Camelot (2012).
Bred by Lynch Bages Ltd. and Camas Park Stud in Ireland, Capri is campaigned by the Coolmore principals Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor. His dam, the Aga Khan-bred Dialafara, was sold for €175,000 as a maiden-winning three-year-old at Arqana December in 2010. The Anabaa mare is herself out of Group 2 heroine Diamilina, a full sister to Group 3 vixen Diamonixa and a half to classic-placed Group 3 scorer Diamond Green. This is also the family of current multiple stakes victor and Epsom Derby also-ran Khalidi, most recently second in the King Edward VII (G2) at Royal Ascot.
Capri is now vying with Wings of Eagles for favoritism in the St Leger (G1) antepost market. While Capri is a logical type to advance to the September 16 classic at Doncaster, O’Brien intimated in postrace quotes that Wings of Eagles might not. The master of Ballydoyle suggested that Wings of Eagles showed a sharp turn of foot at Epsom and “might have just been outstayed” at the Curragh.
As the classic generation continues to sort itself out, next Saturday’s Eclipse (G1) may provide greater clarity. Epsom Derby runner-up Cliffs of Moher and fourth Eminent renew rivalry on the cutback to 1 1/4 miles versus older horses at Sandown, and St James’s Palace (G1) hero Barney Roy could step up in trip from a mile.
