Lambourn prevails in Group 1 Epsom Derby
That win completed an extraordinary two days for the six-time British champion trainer.
Minnie Hauk, a daughter of Frankel, beat stablemate Whirl to take out the Group 1 Epsom Oaks (2,400m) for three-year-old fillies on June 6, while Jan Brueghel saluted in the other Group 1 race, the Coronation Cup (2,400m).
It was not the first time the 55-year-old handler has achieved the Oaks/Derby double. O'Brien last achieved the feat in 2020 with Love in the Epsom Oaks, and with Serpentine, who also made all in the Epsom Derby five years ago.
"It's been an incredible two days. I am delighted," said O'Brien.
"This horse (Lambourn) is uncomplicated, genuine and committed. He always has been."
After landing the Group 3 Chester Vase Stakes (2,500m) under Ryan Moore on May 7, the three-year-old colt of Australia stepped up to the plate at his first Group 1 attempt.
With O'Brien's No. 1 jockey opting to take the reins on his stablemate and last-start Group 3 Derby Trial (2,000m) winner Delacroix, it was Delacroix's last-start winning partner Wayne Lordan who would ride Lambourn.
The multiple Group 1-winning Irish jockey was not at his first association with Lambourn. He was aboard Lambourn when he scored on debut in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race (1,600m) at Killarney racecourse on July 18, 2024.
Lordan's career was in doubt a couple of years ago after a dreadful fall from San Antonio in the 2023 Group 1 Irish Derby (2,400m). He suffered a fractured leg and elbow, and was out of action for eight months.
"I had to go through a whole series of tests," he told English broadcaster ITV.
"I finally got the green light, but it was rather an odd way to tell me I could ride again.
"He (doctor) said you are fit enough to take another fall. I knew if I had another fall, it would be the end of my career."
The Epsom Derby win was a career-defining moment in Lordan's riding career, and even if it came in front of a disappointing crowd - a smattering of spectators populating the normally packed Epsom Hill on the inside of the track - that mattered not a jot.
"It's one of the greatest races," said the 43-year-old hoop.
"For any jockey that wants to start out, all they ever want to do is to win the Derby. I work for Aidan, Ballydoyle and Coolmore, so I'm in a lucky position that I get to ask for a horse like this."
Lordan was never challenged at his first Epsom Derby win on his ninth ride in the race considered to be the "blue riband" of flat racing.
"I knew I'd gone a good gallop, his ears were pricked and I knew he had plenty left," he said.
"We've always felt he stays well, so I just thought anybody that gets to me will have to stay well, and it'd be tough for them."
Upon jumping from gate 10, Lordan was seen scrubbing his mount up to the front before crossing to show the way on the paint. Sea Scout (Harry Davies) sat in second on his outside while Lazy Griff (Christophe Soumillon) tracked up behind the leader in third.
Once Lambourn ($51) hit the straight, he was off and gone. None of the other fancied horses, including race favourite Delacroix, landed a blow.
The son of Dubawi settled in the middle of 18 initially, but as they turned for home, he was third from last. He eventually finished ninth.
Moore told O'Brien after the race Delacroix had been bumped and never recovered from the impact.
It was two outsiders that were closest at the finish - Lazy Griff (50-1) was 3¾ lengths away in second, while 28-1 chance Tennessee Stud, trained by O'Brien's son Joseph, finished another length behind in third.
There had been hopes that the Aga Khan Stud-owned Midak would deliver a poignant win in a race named this year in honour of the late Aga Khan IV, who won the race five times.
The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained colt raced in fourth for a long way, but when the moment came for jockey Mickael Barzalona to move up a gear on the French runner, he went into reverse and finished 10th.
Another favourite, Ruling Court, was pulled out less than two hours before the race.
It dashed hopes of him becoming the first colt - since Nijinsky in 1970 - to win the English Triple Crown. The Justify colt won the Group 1 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) - the first leg - at Newmarket on May 3.
The Epsom Derby is the second leg and the Group 1 St Leger (2,900m) held at Doncaster in September, will be the final leg.
"It's very disappointing," said his trainer Charlie Appleby.
"Stamina was an unknown for us. We felt that what we saw in the Guineas on quick ground and the way he quickened that day, it was not going to be the ground for him today to be testing him over a mile and a half."
AFP
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