By Sean Cronin
Unable to supply subsequent G1 Epsom Derby success since Blue Peter (GB) (Fairway {GB}) completed the double in 1939, Epsom's Listed Blue Riband Trial was barren ground for Aidan O'Brien too, but Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Cape of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set that record straight with a determined effort in Wednesday's renewal. The bay took three starts to shed maiden status, doing so at his local Tipperary track in July, before placing in Newmarket's July 14 G2 Superlative S. and Sept. 29 G2 Royal Lodge S. to conclude a five-race juvenile campaign last time. Settled off the pace in fifth as Sameem (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and Massam (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) scooted clear of the remainder, he made smooth headway in the straight before quickening into second at the quarter-mile marker and fought the camber under a drive in the latter stages to gain the upper hand nearing the line for a career high. Halting a run of four straight wins for the John Gosden stable, he had a half-length to spare over the fast-finishing Cap Francais (GB) (Frankel {GB}) with 'TDN Rising Star' Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) 3/4-of-a-length further adrift in third. “He had some of the best form coming into the race from his performance in the Superlative behind Quorto and being third in the Royal Lodge,” said Coolmore's Kevin Buckley. “Coming here you never know what is going to happen, but it is good to get that experience. He is a full-brother to Idaho and Highland Reel–Idaho was third in the Derby and Highland Reel won the Coronation Cup–and the family has experience and success around here. Ryan [Moore] said he settled nicely and there was a decent pace. He was ready to start, he'll get home and Aidan will see how he comes out of it. He is entered in the [June 1 G1] Derby and we will see how the [remaining] trials go.” Should Cape of Good Hope make the cut for Ballydoyle's Derby squad, he is not certain to once more cross swords with Cap Francais, as trainer Ed Walker explained, “Gerald [Mosse] loves him, but he was very fresh today. He was like that last year so we took him to Kempton for an away-day. There was about four-and-a-half people there and he behaved like a lamb, but he came here today and was silly in the paddock. He was difficult to saddle and just fresh. It is £85,000 to supplement him [for the Derby] and it's a lot of money. We may take in another trial and see what happens. Maybe he is not a horse for the [Epsom] Derby, but for another Derby. Maybe Ireland.”
Cape of Good Hope is a full-brother to MG1SW globetrotter and sire Highland Reel (Ire), MG1SP G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G2 Hardwicke S. victor Idaho (Ire) and an unraced 2-year-old colt. The bay is also a half-brother to G1 VRC Oaks and G1 Storm Queen S. second Valdemoro (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}). His dam Hveger (Aus) (Danehill), a daughter of G1 Australian Oaks heroine Circles of Gold (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}), is a full-sister to Australian champion and MG1SW sire Elvstroem (Aus) (Danehill) and a half-sister to MG1SW sire Haradasun (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus), from a family featuring G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas victress Amicus (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and MG1SW sire Starspangledbanner (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}).
Wednesday, Epsom, Britain
INVESTEC BLUE RIBAND TRIAL-Listed, £50,000, Epsom, 4-24, 3yo, 10f 17yT, 2:06.28, gd.
1–CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Hveger (Aus) (G1SP-Aus), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Circles of Gold (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
3rd Dam: Olympic Aim, by Zamazaan (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (240,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Hveger Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £28,355. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Eng, 6-2-1-1, $90,531. *Full to Highland Reel (Ire), 2x Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 9 1/2-11f, MG1SW-Eng, HK & US, MG1SP-Fr & G1SP-Aus, $10,530,964; and Idaho (Ire), MGSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $1,634,798; and 1/2 to Valdemoro (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), MG1SP-Aus, $337,006.
2–Cap Francais (GB), 127, c, 3, Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)–Miss Cap Ferrat (GB), by Darshaan (GB). O-John Pearce Racing Ltd. £10,750.
3–Turgenev (GB), 127, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Tasaday, by Nayef. O-HRH Princess Haya of Jordan. £5,380.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 6. Odds: 4.00, 5.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Mackaar (Ire), Arthur Kitt (GB), Massam (GB), Sameem (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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