EPSOM, England — At the English Derby on Saturday, Lambourn stormed to a commanding victory, marking Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s 11th triumph in the prestigious event. The 3-year-old colt, under the guidance of jockey Wayne Lordan, took the lead early on and demonstrated remarkable endurance, pulling away decisively down the final stretch to clinch the win by approximately 3 1/2 lengths. Entering the race with odds of 13-2, Lambourn had previously been outpaced by 2-1 favorite Delacroix in March at Leopardstown. However, Delacroix failed to pose a threat this time and ended up in ninth place.
Trailing Lambourn, Lazy Griff, a 50-1 longshot, secured the second position, while Tennessee Stud took third. This victory added to O’Brien’s impressive record with his third consecutive triumph at the Derby’s centerpiece race.
“Amazing ride by Wayne,” O’Brien explained. “We all knew the plan; it was straightforward. Wayne was confident Lambourn would last the distance, so he forged ahead.” There’s a touch of history here, as Lambourn is the offspring of 2014 Derby victor Australia, himself sired by 2001 winner Galileo.
Reflecting on this lineage, O’Brien noted, “Training Australia to win the Derby and his sire Galileo was remarkable. I’m a small part of this endeavor — many contribute significantly. This is a true privilege.” He further praised Australia’s legacy, “Australia was an extraordinary Derby champion, and his offspring display his reliable nature.”