20 Mar 2012
Aidan O’Brien stepped Cape Blanco out on three occasions as a juvenile and the son of Galileo delivered every time, winning his maiden before graduating to Group Three & Group Two level successfully at his next two appearances.
The debut took placed at Fairyhouse (County Meath, Ireland), 10 June 2009. Cape Blanco won the 7 furlong event after settling in fourth position, challenging for the lead at the furlong pole and keeping on to win.
Aidan O’Brien was encouraged enough by the effort to present him next six weeks later in the Tyros Stakes-Gr.3 (7f) at Leopardstown. Cape Blanco was never in doubt; Johnny Murtagh took him straight to the front and he careered away in the straight to win by three-and-a-half lengths.
O’Brien raised the bar further at juvenile start number three with Cape Blanco tackling the Futurity Stakes-Gr.2 (7f) at Fairyhouse. Despite struggling on the rain-affected track (Johnny Murtagh said later, “he hated the ground”), Cape Blanco was too good and again set the pace and fought off all the challengers.