CAPE BLANCO set up a mouth-watering rematch with Workforce after leadning home a 1-2-3 for Aidan O’Brien in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh yesterday.
Cape Blanco’s half-length success over stable-mate Midas Touch – with Jan Vermeer in third – also gave the Ballydoyle handler a fifth successive win in the Classic.
Under Johnny Murtagh Cape Blanco (7-2), who was an impressive winner of the Dante Stakes at York, put behind his disappointment in the French Derby to get the better in a battle to the line from two furlongs out with stablemate Midas Touch (9-2).
O’Brien said: “Johnny gave him a brilliant ride. The last day in France was a blip and we couldn’t understand it.
“Maybe it was the travel, it was his first day away and in the heat, something upset him and he wasn’t the horse we know. He left that behind today and showed all the courage and class we know he has. This is great for everybody and all the horses ran well. I’m delighted to be part of it.”
Cape Blanco beat subsequent wide-margin Epsom Derby winner Workforce in the Dante and is now in line to take him again in the King George IV and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 24.
Workforce is currently the 11-10 favourite with William Hill and Paddy Power with Cape Blanco a 5-1 chance with the former.
Cape Blanco could head to Ascot. O’Brien added: “We always thought if everything did go well today we would look at the King George.”
William Hill go 4-9 Workforce and 13-8 Cape Blanco for the next time they meet.
