Capri triumphs to provide Moore with a Classic full house
Ryan Moore completed a full book of British Classic wins when Irish Derby winner Capri got the better of Crystal Ocean and Stradivarius in a thrilling William Hill St Leger.
Moore, widely acknowledged as the best jockey in the world, had enjoyed no luck at all in seven previous rides in the race, but, in a race which set up perfectly for Capri after stablemate The Anvil forced a brisk gallop, he was warm in his praise for the grey, who was Aidan O’Brien’s fifth winner of the race.
“He’s a very good horse, very honest,” Moore said following the half-length victory. “He fought very hard. It was a very good performance.
“I think it was a very good Leger. I think in normal years the first three would have all been worthy winners. But Capri’s an Irish Derby winner and the form of that win looked good.”
O’Brien, who saddled four in the race, said: “He’s a horse that has a lot of class. He’s won an Irish Derby and it’s his class that’s won that today.
“Seamus [Heffernan] rides him at home, in a lot of his work and races and he’s always believed in this horse and how much class he has. It was a great performance and it all went well. We thought Capri would actually improve for this race and the Arc is something we’ll think about for him, but the lads will make that decision.
“He’s a mile and a half horse but he’s got class. He’s got the pace for a mile and a quarter but a mile and a half is where he’ll really show his class. He’s got class, courage and stamina.”
Only once has the St Leger ended in anything but frustration for Sir Michael Stoute, but there was obvious pride to be had from the running of Crystal Ocean, Stoute’s 37th runner in the race and a gallant second despite struggling to last the extended trip.
“He ran a great race, we are thrilled with him,” said Stoute, who won the 2008 St Leger with Conduit. “I thought he was going to win but we won’t run him beyond a mile and a half again. It was always a danger. Jim [Crowley] gave him a lovely ride and I thought he might win – Jim was pretty confident but he was outstayed. He won’t run again this year.”
fonte RacingPost
Leger Glory For Galileo’s Capri
| 4th at DON, Gr. Stk, £700,000 | G1 William Hill St Leger S. | (14f 115y) | Winner: Capri (Ire), c, 3 by Galileo (Ire) |
Capri | racingfotos.com
By Tom Frary
CAPRI (IRE), c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Dialafara (Fr), by Anabaa.
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £396,970. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, 10-5-1-2, £1,266,483.
Freshened up after his G1 Irish Derby victory, Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) came to Doncaster’s Town Moor with three stablemates to produce the perfect scenario for him and duly rewarded their hard front-running efforts by justifying 3-1 favouritism under Ryan Moore. Always comfortable in fourth off the searing pace, the grey was committed passing the three-furlong marker and held off TDN Rising Star Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and the G1 Goodwood Cup hero Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) by a half length and a short head as the best horses came to the fore in a strong renewal. “He’s a very good horse and he’s very honest,” his rider commented after winning his first St Leger. “He dug in and fought very hard when Crystal Ocean came to him. He’s done very little wrong in his career and has progressed from race to race.”
Scat Daddy’s Seahenge Takes the Champagne
| 3rd at DON, Gr. Stk, £75,000 | G2 Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne S. | (7f 6y) | Winner: Seahenge, c, 2 by Scat Daddy |
Seahenge | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
SEAHENGE, c, 2, Scat Daddy–Fools in Love (SW-US, $240,746), by Not For Love. ($750,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP).
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-K & G Stables (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Donnacha O’Brien. £42,533. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, £56,600.
Last seen finishing fifth behind Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G2 Vintage S. at Glorious Goodwood Aug. 1, Seahenge attracted support into 8-1 despite Ryan Moore opting for Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) of the Ballydoyle pair. Switched off in last early by Donnacha O’Brien, the imposing bay crept into contention as Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) continued to apply the pressure from the front and reeled in that rival in the final 75 yards for a neck success, with the 9-4 favourite Mythical Magic (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) the same margin back in third as they pulled clear of the remainder. “He was very aggressive with me going to the start, so I thought I’d take my time with him and when they quickened from the three I got caught a little bit but I let him find his feet,” the winning rider said. “My lad will be suited by a step up in trip again and I think he’s a nice horse.”
fonte : TDN
