Irish Derby Ratings Update: Forward Capri

A quiet weekend on the domestic front, however a memorable one for Jedd O’Keeffe who won his first listed race thanks to Lord Yeats’ (up 6 lb to 114) gutsy front-running performance in the Fred Archer Stakes which kicked off Newmarket’s card on Saturday. Another big improver on the card was Dance Diva (up 13 lb to 95p), one of two winners on the day for Cheveley Park Stud, who is now unbeaten in three starts after winning the listed Empress Stakes. Home of the Brave (up 1 lb to 121) made the most of a good opportunity, not needing to improve, as he beat the fellow Godolphin-owned Jungle Cat (118) by three quarters of a length in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes.

Up at Newcastle, the Northumberland Plate turned into something of a dash for the line, with less than five lengths separating as many as 13 at the winning post. The first two home, Higher Power (119) and Natural Scenery (116), both showed improved form, with James Fanshawe’s five-year-old winning by half a length. He swerved an engagement in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but ran to a rating under his big weight here that, in theory, would have put him third only behind Big Orange and Order of St George. He could conceivably take them on in the Goodwood Cup.

Elsewhere on the Newcastle card, impressive Goodwood winner London Prize (103) was well in under a 5 lb-penalty in the Northumberland Vase, and duly followed up back on the all-weather. He only scored by a narrow margin but stuck to his task and there's a good chance he'll have even more to come granted a greater test of stamina (likely to stay beyond 2m). Much like the Northumberland Plate, albeit over a much shorter trip, there was a messy feel to the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes. Koropick (116 from 108) reeled in Intisaab late on, though Kimberellla would have beaten them both with a clear run. The second and third remain unchanged on 117 and 118 respectively.

The pick of the action came from the Curragh; Only Mine (remains on 107) didn’t need to improve to beat Gordon Lord Byron (115) in the Creekside Dash Stakes, however there was obvious progression shown by True Valour (up 7 lb to 110) to win the Celebration Stakes 30 minutes later. Beckford (up 13 lb to 110p), a new niche for Gordon Elliott, confirmed the promise shown on debut when winning a strong renewal of the Group 2 Railway Stakes, a pair of exciting once-raced maiden winners ultimately proving too strong for one who set a high standard. The winner will reportedly come back for the Phoenix Stakes next month, while runner-up Verbal Dexterity (up 4 lb to 106p) will prove suited by a return to 7f and can gain compensation in a similar event before long, the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown appealing as an obvious target.

The highlight of the day, the Irish Derby, went as it often has to Aidan O’Brien, though it wasn’t the 2/1 favourite Wings of Eagles who prevailed in a tight finish, but one of his stablemates: Capri (122 from 118+). It was a solid, if not spectacular, renewal of Ireland's premier classic - run in front of a crowd restricted to 6000 as the Curragh undergoes an extensive facelift - the first and third from Epsom taking on the runner-up in the Prix du Jockey Club, but all three were eclipsed by the relatively exposed Capri, a result that merely underlines the fact that there is no standout performer in this division this year. The second Cracksman (122+) and fourth Waldgeist (122) are possibly worth marking up in the circumstances given it wasn’t an end-to-end gallop. Despite Derby hero Wings of Eagles only finishing third, it was a case of normal service resumed for O'Brien who was picking up this prize for a twelfth time, five of whom have been sired by the 2001 winner Galileo, while Seamus Heffernan joins an elite bunch of jockeys to have won it three times. Unfortunately, Wings of Eagles was retired before the end of the weekend after sustaining a bad fracture to his near-fore sesamoid.

Sunday featured a straight-forward success for Johannes Vermeer (118), who didn’t need to improve to win the Group 3 International Stakes, while Churchill’s sister Clemmie (up 9 lb to 102p) led home a 1-2 for Ballydoyle in the Grangecon Stud Stakes, giving an instant boost to the Albany form. However, the O’Brien party (which continued afterwards as the Joseph O’Brien-trained Rekindling – up 2 lb to 112 – won the Group 2 Curragh Cup) was gatecrashed somewhat by Nezwaah (now 120 from 117+) beating Rain Goddess (112) in the Pretty Polly Stakes. It was a really competitive renewal of this Group 1, the market dominated by a pair of five-year-olds and though neither were up to their best, Journey particularly disappointing, both would have had their work cut out anyway against the up-and-comer Nezwaah, while nothing really holds the form down in behind her, the runner-up also one who is improving with racing. The Nassau and Beverly D. Stakes have been touted as future targets for the winner.

Click here for Simon Rowlands' Irish Derby meeting Sectional Debrief