Famous five for O’Brien
Johnny Murtagh, following much agonising last week, finally came down on the side of Cape Blanco and the son of Galileo answered the powerful driving of his pilot to master a gallant Midas Touch.
Jan Vermeer battled on doggedly to claim third, with Mark Johnston’s Monterosso in fourth and yet another of Brien’s, At First Sight, filling fifth spot.
“We’re delighed, that was brilliant, they have all run stormers”, exclaimed O’Brien, in the immediate aftermath of yet another extraordinary achievement.
It seems as if the man was almost born to break records and the victory of Cape Blanco meant he became the first trainer in history to win an Irish classic five times in-a-row.
And, of course, his tally in the Irish Derby now stands at a quite remarkable eight, starting with Desert King in 1997.
He was followed by Galileo, High Chaparral and the previous four runnings of the race with Dylan Thomas, Soldier Of Fortune, Frozen Fire and Fame and Glory.
O’Brien’s Bright Horizon carried them along at a spanking gallop, followed by stable commpanions At First Sight, Midas Touch and Cape Blanco.
Colm O’Donoghue, well aware their were some doubts regarding Cape Blanco’s ability to stay twelve furlongs, kicked hard on Midas Touch off the home turn.
But Murtagh was wide awake to that tactic and was soon out after the new leader. Over a furlong down, Cape Blanco hit the front, but momentarily appeared to hang fire.
Midas Touch tried to hit back, but Cape Blanco is made of stern stuff and fought like a tiger to be nicely on top at the line.
Jan Vermeer claimed third, while Monterosso, who was struggling down hill to the straight, kept finding for Frankie Dettori to finish fourth.
For Murtagh it was the perfect end to an afternoon that had started with a dramatic tumble - he only suffered a cut to his nose - from Petronius Maximus in the opener.
Quipped Murtagh: “The nose has got better as the day has gone on. I was delighted to be able to get up. There was a big day ahead and, thank God, nothing serious happened.”
It really was a superb training performance by O’Brien, considering Cape Blanco has suffered from intermittent lameness in the past and came here on the back of a dreadful effort in the French Derby at Chantilly.
Commented O’Brien: “We don’t know what happened in France, it was a warm day and something must have upset him. He didn’t fire at all.
“But all his class and courage were there today. France was his only blip, we couldn’t understand it.
“Johnny gave him a brilliant ride, he let him go though the gears. Joseph (Aidan’s son) has been riding this horse and was delighed with his work. He said he was in the same form as before he won the Dante (York).
“We always thought he would stay a mile and a half. We were very happy with all three at home and felt they had come forward. We thought coming here that the King George (Ascot) would be the next race for Cape Banco.”
For Murtagh it was a fourth Irish Derby, to go with Sinndar, Alamshar and Fame And Glory.
“We went a nice even pace, a good gallop and finished very strongly”, reported Murtagh.
“My horse travelled well through the race. He is like most Galileo’s, tough and tenacious. He doesn’t lack courage and I was always confident of winning.”
