Irish Derby result as Lambourn makes history for Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien's Lambourn extended the trainer's impressive record in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, becoming the 20th horse to follow up Epsom success at the Curragh with a hard-fought victory over stablemate Serious Contender.
Lambourn, the 8-13 favourite to repeat his Epsom triumph, saw jockey Ryan Moore attempt to replicate Wayne Lordan's inspired front-running ride on the Surrey Downs. However, they faced stiff competition from Ralph Beckett's second-string Sir Dinadan who refused to let Lambourn have it all his own way.
As they rounded the home turn, Moore urged the Epsom hero on and while Sir Dinadan's challenge began to fade, Ballydoyle stablemate and King George V Stakes runner-up Serious Contender, ridden by Gavin Ryan, emerged as a significant threat.
The final furlong saw a duel between the Ballydoyle pair, but Lambourn proved his mettle for Moore, demonstrating his stamina and Classic quality to win by three-quarters of a length. This victory secures Lambourn a place in the history books alongside his sire Australia and grand-sire Galileo, who also achieved the English-Irish Derby double.
Serious Contender finished second at 28-1, while Charlie Johnston's Epsom runner-up Lazy Griff managed to secure third place at 14-1.
'He's a very straightforward horse that gets the trip well,' said O'Brien.
'Ryan was going to be happy if someone came with him as that keeps him focused. He's a little bit laid-back, a little bit lazy and you could see up the straight he was waiting all the time but that's him. Ryan gave him a lovely ride.
'Ryan thought he would keep pulling out and he was pricking his ears all the way.
'He could be a King George horse, he could be an Arc horse. He gets the trip well and is very sound and very genuine.
'We minded the second horse for a handicap in Ascot that we thought he couldn't get beat and then a horse came and beat us that was entered in the King George so it just goes to show what can happen.'
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Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Derby hero Lambourn could face French star Calandagan in mouthwatering King George clash
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Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Lambourn delivers workmanlike performance to complete Epsom-Curragh Derby double
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Number 151 mightn't have been spectacular enough to feature too highly in their highlights reel. But there was a remorselessness to it that surely resonates with both men. Usually economical with his post-race comments, Moore was more vocal than normal and keen to reassure that Lambourn's performance was much more controlled than it might have looked. 'It wasn't pretty, but he's got a big engine,' said the Englishman, who insisted he was 'always in control' on a straightforward colt that stays very well. Moore was keen to make the most of those virtues and quickly bustled the Epsom hero up to the front alongside the English outsider Sir Dinadan. Turning into the straight, the favourite's rider quickly got animated and briefly looked vulnerable to Serious Contender. Considering Serious Contender had previously been beaten in an Ascot handicap it was a remarkable step up in performance and only in the final 100 metres did Lambourn assert. 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'He's a little bit laid-back, a little bit lazy and you could see up the straight he was waiting all the time but that's him. Ryan thought he would keep pulling out and he was pricking his ears all the way. 'He could be a King George horse, he could be an Arc horse. He gets the trip well and is very sound and very genuine,' O'Brien said. 'We minded the second horse for a handicap in Ascot that we thought he couldn't get beat and then a horse came and beat us that was entered in the King George, so it just goes to show what can happen,' he added. Having won in 2023 on Auguste Rodin, and last year on Los Angeles, Moore again had to work harder than might have been anticipated. But having overlooked Lambourn at Epsom he's unlikely to make the same mistake again. 'He stays well, is straightforward and is typical of his sire and how Aidan trains them. He'll keep getting them to progress, to be consistent and he'll keep running big races all year. 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