Capri motors home to bring Galileo more Classic glory

The G1 Irish Derby hero Capri (3c Galileo-Dialafara, by Anabaa) saw off a classy field at Doncaster on Saturday to register another Classic win for Galileo.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt, also winner of the G2 Beresford Stakes as a juvenile, battled well under Ryan Moore to claim the G1 St Leger by half a length from Crystal Ocean.

It was a first win in the oldest Classic for Moore, who commented: “He’s a very good horse and he’s very honest. 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.”

O’Brien revealed that a trip to Chantilly for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe could be a possibility and added: “Ryan gave him a class ride and everybody was happy with the pace they were going. He is a horse with a lot of class and we saw that in the Irish Derby. Seamus [Heffernan] rides him in a lot of his work and in his races and has always been a big believer in him.

“He says that braveness is his big thing and when Ryan really wanted him today he gave it to him. We thought that he would improve for this run and if everything went well we could have a look at the Arc, but the lads will decide whether to do that or put him away for next year. Probably a mile and a half is the trip where he shows his real class, although he has no problem with a mile and a quarter. He has a great cruise, courage and stamina.”