The Coolmore partners greet Lambourn and Wayne Lordan after their Betfred Derby win. (Breandán Ó hUallacháin photo)
By Breandán Ó hUallacháin
Lambourn and jockey Wayne Lordan led from the gates to win the 246th Betfred Derby at Epsom, England, on Saturday.
It was another success in the premier classic for top Irish handler Aidan O’Brien – it was in fact his 11th win in the one-and-a-half-mile race on Epsom Downs.
Lambourn’s stable companion Delacroix, winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown and the choice of Ballydoyle’s main rider, Ryan Moore, began the race as 2/1 favourite but the son of Dubawi never looked to be travelling well within himself, eventually coming home in ninth place. Post-race O’Brien said the horse was taken out early and bunched coming up the hill, meaning his chance was over by the halfway stage of the race.
As everyone had expected Lordan took Lambourn into the lead from the very start and followed similar tactics to O’Brien’s 2020 winner Serpentine – challenging the remainder of the field to catch himself, something they failed to do on Saturday as had happened with Serpentine five years ago.
The main challenge eventually came from the 50/1 chance Lazy Griff and the Joseph O’Brien-handled Tennessee Stud.
Lazy Griff, trained by Chalie Johnston and ridden by Christophe Soumillon for Middleham Park Racing and G Griffiths took the runner-up spot, three and a quarter lengths behind the comfortable winner. The pair finished in the same order in the Chester Vase in May, a key trial for the Betfred Derby.
Tennessee Stud, also in the Coolmore ownership, was third for County Donegal jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, a further length back, at odds of 28/1.
Speaking to the host broadcaster, ITV Racing, the successful conditioner Aidan O’Brien stated:
“He (Lambourn) is very straightforward, Wayne (Lordan) knew he would stay. He was going to go forward and was obviously expecting someone to come and challenge him. He’s a very fit, genuine horse. He’s a typical Australia; he’s out of a Scat Daddy mare. Incredible. Delighted for Wayne, couldn’t be happier.”
Lambourn is a first winner of the Betfred Derby for County Cork-born rider Wayne Lordan, and is also a first for his sire Australia, a Derby winner in 2014. Interestingly, Lambourn won from gate 10 – the most successful stall since their introduction in 1967.
Discussing his success in the media marquee after the Betfred Derby, forty-three-year-old Wayne Lordan stated:
“I never thought it was going to be as easy as it was, but I was happy to take it. He was out in front, going a good even gallop, his ears were pricked, and he was obviously enjoying it. I’ve seen from his other races that he saves plenty, so I was happy to go forward really early, and I thought he got to the line really well. He’s a horse who is going to stay well, so I think going forward is the option with him.
“When you are growing up the Epsom Derby is always the one. When you get a ride in it you are happy, when you get on one that you think has a chance you are pleased, but when they come and win it it’s special.
Lordan, who won the Betfred 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, England, in 2017 and 2019, continued:
“I was only happy when I passed the line – you don’t know, there are always horses flying home – and on the filly (Whirl in the Betfred Oaks) yesterday I thought I was going well and then Ryan (Moore) passed me in the last 50 yards. I knew anything that got past me was going to have to stay really well and I knew my horse was genuine and tries hard.
“I do feel this horse was a bit overlooked because he’s not a flashy horse, he goes along behind the bridle, he just does his own thing. I suppose the other horses are good travellers, they are good to quicken. Mine was just genuine and going along with it all. But if you looked for it, it was always in there.”
Lambourn’s victory was a record extending 12th win for the Coolmore partners, for whom O’Brien has trained eleven of their winning colts, the other, Pour Moi, was trained by French handler André Fabre.
Aidan O’Brien first won the Betfred Derby in 2001 with Galileo and has since achieved a record eleven victories. His win record is 2001 Galileo, 2002 High Chaparral, 2012 Camelot, 2013 Ruler Of The World, 2014 Australia, 2017 Wings Of Eagles, 2019 Anthony Van Dyck, 2020 Serpentine, 2023 Auguste Rodin and 2024 City Of Troy.
When asked what the next race will be for Lambourn, the now 11-time Betfred Derby-winning handler said:
“He is probably an Irish Derby horse, that’s what he looks like, but it will be dependent on what the lads want to do with him. But he would be that type of horse, and he will get further as well. He is a very uncomplicated, genuine horse.
“Lambourn was always going to be an Irish Derby horse, a Leger horse, and Wayne said he definitely would stay further. He saves plenty for himself and he gives himself a chance to get any trip.”
