By Sean Cronin
Aidan O'Brien trainee Lambourn (Australia) was afforded the freedom of Epsom when making all for a wide-margin triumph in the G1 Derby and, prevented from enjoying a moment's relief in Sunday's Irish equivalent at the Curragh, was all heart in becoming the 20th horse to complete the Classic double. He found plenty, and then some, under Ryan Moore's forceful urgings inside final half-mile to provide the Ballydoyle maestro with a record-extending 17th, and third straight, success in the race.
“He's a very straightforward horse that gets the trip well,” said O'Brien. “Ryan was going to be happy if someone came with him as that keeps him focused. He's a little bit laid-back, a little bit lazy and you could see up the straight he was waiting all the time, but that's him. Ryan thought he would keep pulling out and he was pricking his ears all the way. He could be a [G1] King George [VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes] horse and he could be an Arc horse. He gets the trip well and is very sound and very genuine.”
The 8-13 favourite was unable to dominate as he had in the Blue Riband and was harrassed throughout by Listed Cocked Hat Stakes runner-up Sir Dinadan (Camelot). Under the pump before straightening for home, Lambourn inched ahead as stablemate Serious Contender (Wootton Bassett) posed an ominous threat soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and called upon deep reserves in the closing stages to eke out a game 3/4-of-a-length victory.
None of the remaining septet was able to mount a challenge as Derby runner-up Lazy Griff (Protectionist) powered home far too late to snag third, 2 1/4 lengths adrift, in a bunch finish for the final podium spot with the game Sir Dinadan running out of gas nearing the line. The winner emulates his sire and grandsire in completing the Epsom-Curragh double.
“We minded Serious Contender for a handicap in [Royal] Ascot that we thought he couldn't get beat and then a horse came and beat us that was entered in the King George, so it just goes to show what can happen,” O'Brien said of the runner-up.
Reflecting on the performance of Serious Contender, rider Gavin Ryan added, “He's a lovely horse, a big laid-back type and he came off the bridle a long way out. The more you ask the more he gives you. He's a big, tough, genuine type and it was a lovely run.”
Lazy Griff, who also finished behind Lambourn in the G3 Chester Vase, will point towards Doncaster's G1 St Leger in September, according to Charlie Johnston. “It wasn't an easy watch and, after a half-mile, I thought we're not winning that's for sure because he just couldn't hold his pitch,” the trainer commented. “He was getting bullied out of where he wanted to be by the Ballydoyle contingent and horses who were just travelling better than him, so we ended up further back than we wanted. Even turning into the straight I thought we were treading water, but when he met the rising ground in the last furlong he's flown home. We were concerned about the ground coming in to this meeting and clearly softer ground would have suited him better. Another two furlongs is going to suit him too, so if the winner is going to the Leger we're all ready for round four. He's starting to get the credit he deserves and has been placed in two Derbys. He's been overlooked at every step so far, but he keeps showing he belongs at this level and that is where he'll be going forward.”
Westerberg and Coolmore's Joseph O'Brien trainee Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett) was unable to match his third-place finish at Epsom, but stayed on well in the closing stages to run fourth. “It was a great run,” said jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle. “He just got a little bit outpaced at the bottom of the straight, but he came home well inside the last furlong and hit the line strong.”
LAMBOURN, a dual Derby winner 🤩 pic.twitter.com/WMHW2rRAwg
— TDN (@theTDN) June 29, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Lambourn, one of his sire's six Group 1 winners, is the second of four foals and lone scorer out of G2 Queen Mary runner-up Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy), herself a full-sister to the stakes-winning Lavender Chrissie. The April-foaled bay's dam is also kin to GIII Victory Ride Stakes victrix Baby J (J Be K), stakes-winning GI Secretariat Stakes placegetter Laureate Conductor (Bernstein), the dual stakes-placed Que Posse (Posse) and to the dam of G2 Sapphire Stakes victrix Infancy (Wandjina). Lambourn's third dam Mighty Milk (Hero's Honor) is a half-sister to Grade III winner Hot Brush (Broad Brush) and Listed Summer Stakes scorer Blazing Hot (Irish River). Blazing Hot, in turn, is the second dam of GII Super Derby hero Going Ballistic (Lite The Fuse). Gossamer Wings has the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Action (Frankel) to come. Her 2024 colt by Frankel unfortunately died last year.
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH DERBY-G1, €1,250,000, Curragh, 6-29, 3yo, 12fT, 2:29.18, gd.
1–LAMBOURN (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Gossamer Wings (MGSP-Eng, SP-Ire), by Scat Daddy
2nd Dam: Lavender Baby, by Rubiano
3rd Dam: Mighty Milk, by Hero's Honor
O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €725,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng & SW-Fr, 7-5-1-0, $2,249,542. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Serious Contender (Ire), 128, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Lugnaquilla (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore; T-Aidan O'Brien. €250,000.
3–Lazy Griff (Ger), 128, c, 3, Protectionist (Ger)–Linarda (Den), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire). (€75,000 Ylg '23 BBAGS). O-Middleham Park Racing & George Griffiths; B-Gestut Westerberg; T-Charlie Johnston. €125,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 0.62, 28.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Tennessee Stud (Ire), Sir Dinadan (Ire), Green Impact (Ire), Thrice (Ire), Shackleton (Ire), Puppet Master (Ire), Pride Of Arras (Ire).
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