Aidan O’Brien won his 12th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Saturday, but not with the expected horse. Epsom hero Wings Of Eagles was sent off favourite for the €1.5million contest and made his challenge with a furlong to go, himself and British raider Cracksman doing all they could to narrow the advantage of CAPRI (IRE) and Seamie Heffernan, but to no avail. CAPRI (IRE), who was beaten less than four lengths in the Epsom Derby, won the Irish Classic by a neck, with Cracksman bettering Wings Of Eagles by the shortest of margins. It was later revealed that Wings Of Eagles had suffered a career-ending injury during the race and has been retired.

CAPRI (IRE) has gone from strength to strength, from winning a Group 2 and being placed in Group 1 company at two, to his fine run in defeat at Epsom. Bred by Paul Shanahan’s Lynch Bages Ltd in partnership with Camas Park Stud, he is the best performer out of the Anabaa mare Dialafara, herself a daughter of dual Group winner Diamilina, from the Aga Khan family of Group 1 performer Diamond Green and Melbourne Cup second Bauer (IRE).

While Pour Moi (IRE) was out of luck in the Irish Derby, he notched a Stakes win in the Listed Dash Stakes over six furlongs, courtesy of his brave daughter ONLY MINE (IRE). The Joseph Murphy-trained filly came into the race with three black-type placings from three starts this season and regular rider Gary Carroll was on board once again. Leading from start to finish, she reacted well to pressure from the two pole, digging deep to repel the challenge of the gallant Gordon Lord Byron (IRE) and win by a neck.

Murphy bought the now three-time Stakes winner for €80,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale, where she was consigned by the Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of breeder Mrs C L Weld. Dermot Weld trained her Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) dam, Truly Mine (IRE), to win a Listed and be placed in a Group 3, and she comes from the family of Group 1 performer Dream Peace (IRE), EP Taylor Stakes winner Truly A Dream (IRE), Prix Saint-Alary victor Cerulean Sky (IRE) and Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone.

Another Orby grad to triumph on the Derby card was BECKFORD, who followed up on his impressive debut in May with an authoritative victory in the Group 2 Railway Stakes. Originally owned by the Nick Bradley Racing Club, he had since sold to Maurice Regan’s Newtown Anner Stud Farm but remained in the care of trainer Gordon Elliott. Declan McDonogh also kept the ride and rode his mount to chase the leaders, making a challenge at the two pole and improved to leader with a furlong to go, racing home well to score by a length. Jim Bolger’s homebred Verbal Dexterity (IRE) stayed on for second, finishing a length and a quarter in front of the Aidan O’Brien trained favroutie Murillo, who finished third in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Elliott and agent Aidan ‘Mouse’ O’RYna bought Beckford from Lynn Lodge Stud for €55,000 at the Orby Sale.

Earlier on the card, TRUE VALOUR (IRE) looked to be thriving from a busy season when producing a career-best performance in the Listed Celebration Stakes. Placed at Listed level at Naas and Epsom this season, he was last seen when finishing eight in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot. Stepping up to a mile for the first time on Saturday, the colt came with a late run under Shane Foley, racing up the rail as a gap appeared, taking the lead with just 200 yards to go and kept on well to beat favourite Sea Wolf (IRE) by half a length. David Redvers bought TRUE VALOUR (IRE) for €100,000 at the Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale from Tally-Ho Stud, who stand his speedy sire, Kodiac. He was bred by Pat O’Rourke of Belmont Stud, who bought his Acclamation dam for €23,000 at the Goffs February Sale. She is a half-sister to a Stakes winner, from the family of Guineas victor Mystiko.