Aidan O'Brien's monopoly of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby continued at the Curragh today, when Cape Blanco led home a Ballydoyle 1-2-3 in the €1,250,000 classic.
The Ballydoyle handler was winning the race for the fifth consecutive year while jockey Johnny Murtagh was recording his fourth success in the race.
O'Brien was typically strongly represented in the race with five runners and Bright Horizon cut out the running under Sean Levey. Midas Touch kicked on turning for home, under Colm O'Donoghue, and proved a tough nut to crack in front.
Cape Blanco got the better of his stable-mate over a furlong from home and knuckled down well.
He had half a length to spare at the line from that rival while Jan Vermeer who had been produced to challenge at the two furlong pole along with Cape Blanco, was a length-and-a-half back in third.
Nearest 'non-O'Brien' runner was English raider Monterosso in fourth, although O'Brien's At First Sight did fill fifth spot.
"I'm delighted - brilliant. Johnny gave him a great ride. The second and third ran stormers as well - all the horses ran great races. Credit to the lads for getting them here," said O'Brien afterwards.
"The last day in France was only a blip and we couldn't understand it. Maybe it was the travelling.
"It was his first day away and it was very hot. He just found it a little bit different and wasn't the same horse in the parade ring.
"He's left that well behind and showed all the class and courage we knew he had today.
"He loved the fast ground and we always thought he would get a mile-and-a-half.
"I'm privileged to be part of the whole team. Without John (Magnier), Michael (Tabor) and Derek (Smith) it wouldn't happen.
"Everybody at home works so hard as well and Johnny is marvellous."
When asked if the decision to ride Cape Blanco had been Murtagh's, O'Brien said:-
"Johnny always makes his own mind up. At this stage he might go with what I say but he always makes his own mind up."
On future plans O'Brien said that the King George could be next on the agenda for the winner.
"I thought coming here he was an ideal horse for the King George but obviously after the blip we had to see what happened.
"We'll go home and everything will be discussed. It's a possibility but not definate.
"He has always showed loads of class. Even as a two-year-old he wouldn't mind six or seven furlongs.
"With Galileos the one thing they have is class and courage as well."
Murtagh had luckily escaped serious injury in the opener, when Petronius Maximus fell, to take up the mount.
"He ran a bit green and when I pulled my stick through he ducked, hit the rail and fell," said Murtagh of the colt.
"Thankfully after it I was able to walk back and felt okay. (Chief Medical Officer) Adrian McGoldrick and his team patched me up as best they could and thankfully it was nothing serious."
Murtagh was always happy that he was on the right horse as things started to unfold during the race.
"He travelled pretty well and I followed Colm into the straight. Colm's horse responded well but as soon as I got on an even keel I thought I'd win.
"Aidan said that once he got into top gear he'd stretch out and like most Galileo's he's very brave. He put his head down and galloped to the line."
