Lambourn gives Aidan O'Brien a record-extending 11th victory in the Betfred Derby at Epsom
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Arguably the Irish trainer's third choice after 2-1 favourite Delacroix, the pick of stable jockey Ryan Moore, and former ante-post market leader The Lion In Winter, Lambourn proved he wasn't just making up the numbers with a superb front-running display under Wayne Lordan, who was winning the Derby for a first time.
For O'Brien it was a second clean sweep of the three Group Ones at the Derby Festival in the same year. In 2012 Camelot won the Derby after 20-1 shot Was had won the Oaks and St Nicholas Abbey had claimed the second of his three Coronation Cup victories. After Jan Brueghel had won the Coronation Cup and Minnie Hauk claimed the Oaks on Friday – both under Moore – Lambourn brought up the big-race treble.
READ MORE: Spiritual wins the opener on Betfred Derby day at Epsom
READ MORE: Horse Power: The Lion In Winter to roar back with victory in the Betfred Derby at Epsom
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Lambourn, who had been second to stable-mate Delacroix in the 1m2f Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown on his seasonal return at the end of March, reversed the form in empathic fashion stepped up again in trip to 1m4f. The son of O'Brien's 2014 Derby hero Australia had showed his ability and staying power when impressing when landing the Group Three Chester Vase on the Roodee last month.
And he again showed that stamina, as Delacroix trailed home ninth and The Lion In Winter 14th Lambourn powered to a three-and-three-quarters-of-a-length from the Charlie Johnston-trained Lazy Griff (50-1), under Christophe Soumillion – the same distance as when he was also runner-up at Chester. Tennessee Stud (28-1) – trained by O'Brien's son Joseph, who partnered Lambourn's sire Australia and Camelot (2012) to Derby glory – was another length back in third with New Ground (50-1) a neck further adrift in fourth.
O'Brien, who was winning a record-extending 11th Derby and a third in a row after Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy triumphed, said: "Wayne gave him him an incredible ride. I'm delighted for Wayne, he's a great fellow, he does so much hard work. Everybody knew what he was going to do, he's very straightforward, Wayne knew he'd stay so he went forward. He's a very fit, genuine horse. He's a typical Australia so it's incredible and I'm delighted for Wayne.
"It's incredible for everyone that we trained Australia to win the Derby and his sire as well, Galileo. I'm just a small part of it, everybody puts in so much, I can't tell you what a privelege it is. Australia was a great Derby winner and his horses are so straightforward, just like him.
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"Lambourn was second to Delacroix first time out and we took him to Chester and we know you have to be on your game and you have to stay and that's the way he was. Ryan loved him at Chester, but he couldn't ride them all. I'd say he's probably an Irish Derby horse, but he will get further as well, he's very uncomplicated."
On his other two Derby runners, O'Brien added: "Ryan said he got taken out of his ground over halfway so his chance was over, Colin (Keane) said The Lion In Winter wasn't going forward so it was maybe the track or the ground, we'll see. Wayne obviously got the fractions 100 per cent and Joseph's horse ran a stormer in third, so it's unbelievable."
Jockey Wayne Lordan and trainer Aidan O'Brien with the trophy after winning the Betfred Derby with Lambourn at the 2025 Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse on Saturday, June 7 2025 -Credit:PA
Cork-born Lordan, who turned 43 last month and has been working at the Ballydoyle stable for the past eight years, was delighted to land a first Derby. He said: "I knew he'd set a good gallop. His ears were pricked. I knew he had plenty left. He's a horse that we know stays well. So I just thought, anybody that want's to get to get to me, will have to stay well, and it'll be tough for them. It's one of the greatest races for any jockey as all they want to do is win a derby."
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