Goffs Orby graduate Cape Blanco recorded his third US Grade 1 success at Belmont Park yesterday when battling gamely to take the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes.
Winner of the Grade 1 Arlington Million and Grade 1 Man O’War Stakes this season, the four year old son of Galileo will obviously be a serious contender for the Breeders Cup Turf if he comes back for it in November.
Odds on favourite for yesterday’s Turf Classic which was run in very testing conditions, Cape Blanco tracked the leader early on and was shaken up and ridden to lead under Jamie Spencer three furlongs out. Rounding the final turn he moved into a two length lead and stayed on well under pressure from a fast-closing Dean’s Kitten in second to win by a nose.
It was a fifth victory at the highest level for the Aidan O’Brien trained Cape Blanco, who also won the Irish Derby and Champion Stakes in 2010. Owned by Dr Jim and Fitri Hay, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor, Cape Blanco’s has earned approximately €3,000,000 in prize money to date. He was bred and sold by Des Vere Hunt’s Garraun Stud to Demi O’Byrne for €330,000 at the 2008 Goffs Orby Sale.