O'Brien looking to Curragh for Derby hero Lambourn

Irish Examiner

3 days ago

Aidan O'Brien considers the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby the most likely next port of call for Lambourn following his Epsom heroics on Saturday.
A son of dual Derby winner Australia, the three-year-old made virtually every yard of the running in the premier Classic under Wayne Lordan, providing O'Brien with his 11th Betfred Derby success.
Speaking on Racing TV's Luck on Sunday programme, the Ballydoyle handler reported his three Derby runners to have returned home none the worse, with Lambourn's stablemates Delacroix and The Lion In Winter set to drop back in trip after finishing ninth and 14th respectively.
"The horses have been out for a walk and a pick of grass (this morning) and everybody seems very happy with them," said O'Brien.
"We were expecting Wayne was probably going to go forward to make the running on Lambourn — unless there was someone going very fast he was going to end up in front and that's what happened. Wayne gave him a great ride, he had to be aggressive from the gates and he is a horse that stays very well."
Lambourn winning jockey Wayne Lordan celebrates. Picture: Healy Racing
O'Brien felt there were excuses for Delacroix, the chosen mount of Ryan Moore, and the Colin Keane-ridden The Lion In Winter.
He added: "It got a little bit rough up the hill, I think Ryan got chopped up at the top of the hill and Colin ended up a little bit more forward than he thought he was going to be and out a little bit.
"To have one horse in any race and it go right is very difficult, so if you have three in a race it's usually not going to go right for them all.
"We learnt that Wayne's horse stays very well and is a very straightforward, uncomplicated horse, we learnt Colin's horse could be a miler, so he was probably a mile out of his ground, and it's very possible that Ryan's horse is a mile-and-a-quarter horse, even though their races didn't go as well as they would have wanted.
"In the Derby every year you get fairly straightened out and sort out what you are or you aren't. The Derby and the Oaks are the races that expose the whole three-year-old generation, their flaws and their weaknesses and their strengths. You usually know where you're going after it."
On future plans for the winner, he said: "The lads (owners) will make that decision and we'll see how he is when he gets back cantering in 10 days, but it looks like he's an Irish Derby horse and it looks like the Curragh would really suit him."
The trainer also praised the winning rider, who was winning his first Derby.
"Wayne is an unbelievable horseman and the most genuine, uncomplicated person you'll ever meet in your life," O'Brien added.
"He's grateful for everything and expects nothing - that's —Wayne totally. He' an unbelievable person to work with and an unbelievable rider, horseman and jockey all rolled into one."