Dual Group 1 winner Capri charts path to Ascot Gold Cup in Vintage Crop

4.15 Navan
Sequence Events Vintage Crop Stakes | 1m6f | Group 3 | 4yo+| RTV

Aidan O'Brien has used this Group 3 as a stepping stone for his staying stars in the last decade and 2017 St Leger winner Capri is the latest to begin his Ascot Gold Cup build-up at Navan.

Leading Light was the last horse to do the double in 2014 and Fame And Glory did likewise three years earlier, so it is safe to assume the most promising stayer at Ballydoyle is handed a ticket to Navan in late April each year.

Like Leading Light, Capri is a St Leger winner but he found the going tough over middle distances last season having made a winning reappearance in the Alleged Stakes at Naas.

The long-striding grey now steps up to 1m6f for the first time since edging out Crystal Ocean in that ding-dong Doncaster duel the season before last and Ryan Moore is back on board.

Aidan O'Brien: trainer saddles two in Vintage Crop StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

O'Brien has stressed that Ascot is on the agenda for Capri this season but has a word of warning for punters thinking about get involved at skimpy odds, stressing that the five-year will improve significantly for his first start of the season.

O'Brien said: "Capri is just about ready to start. We're happy with him but he'll improve plenty for the run. It's much the same story with Southern France. He's done very well physically since last year."

Southern France was third to stablemate Kew Gardens in last year's St Leger but was unable to justify favouritism in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket next time.

Now rated 111, he is officially 7lb inferior to Capri but is an unexposed stayer who could have more to offer as a four-year-old.

Iain Jardine makes a rare Irish raid with Nakeeta, fifth to Rekindling in the 2017 Melbourne Cup but out of sorts since and could only take 12th in Australia's most famous race in November.

Nakeeta: 2017 Ebor winner represents Iain JardineCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It's his first run since Australia and he seems well and working away nicely so we're really happy with him. They've had a bit of rain which is a bonus, so we're hoping for a good run.

"There's a few in there who are rated a bit higher and Capri is probably the one to beat, but we'll take our chance and fingers crossed he'll run well," Jardine said.

The recent rain will be a bonus for Whirling Dervish, who represents Jessica Harrington, successful with Torcedor in 2017.

Harrington said: "We were very pleased with his recent win at Gowran Park and he’s a nice stayer who handles plenty of ease."

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