Cape Cross, sire of this year’s Derby winner and new Darley stallion Golden Horn, already looks to have a contender for the 2016 Blue Riband following his son Moonlight Magic’s eye-catching victory in the Listed Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown.
The Jim Bolger-trained colt was settled in fifth position under Kevin Manning and making progress with a furlong left to run, took the lead inside the final 100 yards and won the nine-furlong contest by three-quarters of a length. New Approach’s son Leafy Shade finished well to take third.
Moonlight Magic is out of the Irish Oaks second and Epsom Oaks third Melikah (Lammtarra), who is of course also dam of Masterstroke, who stands as a Darley stallion at Haras du Logis in Normandy. Melikah has another Stakes winner in Shamardal’s daughter Hidden Gold, who took last year’s River Eden Fillies’ Stakes.
Cape Cross has enjoyed a truly outstanding year, thanks in no small part to the aforementioned Golden Horn, who recently arrived in Kentucky ahead of his bid to round off his magnificent career with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
