Racing: O'Brien scoops pool in Curragh Classic

Cape Blanco led home an Aidan O'Brien-trained trifecta in the Irish Derby to give the master trainer a historic fifth consecutive victory in the Curragh Classic yesterday.

Johnny Murtagh's tough decision to keep the faith in the Prix du Jockey Club flop was vindicated as the Totesport.com Dante Stakes winner, sent off the 7-2 second favourite behind Monterosso, bounced back in style.

Murtagh, too, was bouncing back after a fall in the opening race at the Curragh, in which he suffered cuts and bruises.

The winning jockey told the Racing Post: "I had a lovely run through the race. He travelled very sweetly and he was very brave and tenacious over the last two furlongs.

"It was a tough decision, as to which I would ride, and I can't take a lot of credit for picking Cape Blanco as Aidan suggested to me that he would be the one to ride."

Connections mentioned the King George at Ascot as the next possible target, which sets up a fascinating rematch with Epsom Derby winner Workforce, who Cape Blanco defeated in the Derby trial at York.

Celebrating an eighth success in the Irish Derby, O'Brien said: "I'm delighted - it was brilliant. Johnny gave him a brilliant ride. He showed today he's the type of horse we thought he was and we'll sit down and think seriously about the King George.

"That last day was a blip and we cannot understand why. He wasn't the horse we know in France, but he's left that behind him."

William Hill have priced up a King George match bet, going 4-9 Workforce and 13-8 Cape Blanco.

Apart from Jan Vermeer, the Ballydoyle challengers raced prominently throughout with rank outsider Bright Horizon setting a decent pace ahead of At First Sight, Midas Touch and Cape Blanco, who travelled in single file in behind.

At the midway point, the order barely changed, although Frankie Dettori, tracking Cape Blanco on 3-1 favourite Monterosso, began to scrub his mount along.

Swinging for home, however, Bright Horizon's early exertions began to tell and Colm O'Donoghue attempted to draw the sting out of his rivals with an early charge on Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Midas Touch.

For a brief moment, the tactic appeared to have paid off, but both Cape Blanco on the outside and Jan Vermeer up the rail began to make inroads on the leader.

In a thrilling finish to the 2400m contest, Cape Blanco eventually wore down Midas Touch, while Jan Vermeer was narrowly denied in third and Monterosso could manage only fourth.

O'Brien said: "I'm very pleased with the second and third, but at this moment there are no real plans."

O'Donoghue said of Midas Touch: "He strikes me as a real St Leger type."

Coral made him 7-2 favourite (from 6-1) for the Doncaster Classic.

Mark Johnston, trainer of King Edward VII Stakes winner Monterosso, said: "We're disappointed and don't know whether this was a step too far in terms of the class or if it came too soon after Royal Ascot."