17.20 Curragh - Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
Result:
1st Capri 6/1
2nd Cracksman 3/1
3rd Wings Of Eagles 2/1F
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Report:
Seamie Heffernan's faith in Capri proved justified as he reversed form with his Epsom conquerors and took the Irish Derby, in the process leaving the picture even muddier as to where the power truly lies among the middle-distance three-year-old crop.
Sent off far from unsupported at 6/1, the grey Galileo colt was one of five runners for trainer Aidan O'Brien, with Ryan Moore unsurprisingly opting to ride Investec Derby winner and favourite Wings Of Eagles.
That allowed Seamie Heffernan to take the mount on Capri, in whom he had maintained 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.
However, Moore was pushing along from a fair way out, as was Pat Smullen aboard Cracksman, as they tried to reel Heffernan's mount back 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 Pierre-Charles Boudot and finished close up in fourth.
Reaction:
Aidan O'Brien: "I was always a great believer in this horse. Even after Epsom, Seamus wanted to come here and ride him.
"We know that he gets a mile and a half and we know that he's brave. Seamus had a lovely position through the race.
"I thought Seamus 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.
"What he did wasn't an easy thing to do. The pace was strong up front, and he was sitting right in the eye of the storm.
"He had a choice how close he followed it (the pace) or not to follow it, and he knew all the fancied horses were behind him."It was a masterclass from him, really.
"Seamus has been a part of our family for over 20 years now. He is an amazing fellow - talented, dedicated, loyal and an unbelievable rider.
"We feel privileged and delighted to be working with him every day.
"John (Magnier), Michael (Tabor) and Derrick (Smith) will have a talk about where he goes next.
"We were looking at Highland Reel for the King George and this horse has been busy so he might have a rest and we could think about an autumn campaign for him."
"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.
"He showed a mile-and-a-quarter pace at Epsom, he came down, sprinted and finished off very quickly.
"He still ran very well - I thought they all ran great."
Seamus Heffernan: "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.
"At Epsom I was planning to be a little bit closer, but being the track it is, I didn't jump and couldn't be that bit closer.
"I had to move a little bit earlier than ideal and I still ran very well. It's great that he looks like he's improving.
"The Epsom Derby is the clash of the best around and what runs in that race usually split up and win the best races around."
Cracksman's jockey Pat Smullen: "He ran an excellent race. He got a little bit further back than we had planned but he never really travelled though the race and showed a lot of immaturity still. He's very babyish.
"It wasn't ideal to have to come around one in the straight but I just wasn't going well enough.
"To his credit, he got it together and stayed on very well to the line.
"I thought when I got the better of Wings Of Eagles I had it, but the grey horse battled away well.
"He's run an excellent race. It's unfortunate he's got beat, but he's a horse that will only keep progressing from hereon."
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