Lambourn takes Irish Derby, becomes dual Derby winner
It didn’t come as easily as the Derby at Epsom three weeks ago, but Lambourn became a dual Derby winner Sunday at The Curragh when he captured the Irish Derby by three-quarters of a length over his longshot stablemate Serious Contender.
The Irish Derby does seem to come easily for trainer Aidan O’Brien: Lambourn was his 17th winner in the 1 1/2-mile classic.
Lambourn’s Derby win at Epsom, which followed victory in the Chester Vase, came as a mild surprise, but not Sunday’s. He went off at odds of 2-5 and paid $2.80 on the American tote.
Lambourn, as is his wont, raced prominently from the start under Ryan Moore. Briefly in front during the early stages, Moore eased into a close pressing second as Sir Dinadan came through along the inside to set the pace. That pair ran as a team for the better part of 1 1/4 miles before Lambourn began pushing clear. He could not break free from the pack, however, and came under heavy pressure to inch away from Serious Contender, a 32-1 shot.
Two derbies are two derbies, a grand accomplishment, but it’s fair to question the strength of Sunday’s race. Serious Contender never had run in a stakes race of any sort and his official rating - before the Irish Derby, at least – fell far short of top class.
Using Lazy Griff as a guide, Lambourn nonetheless might have come close to his form in the Derby at Epsom, which he won by 3 3/4 lengths over runner-up Lazy Griff. Second in the Chester Vase, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Lambourn, Lazy Griff checked in third in the Irish Derby, three lengths behind the winner.
Lambourn was timed in 2:29.18 over “good” ground, a fast clocking by the race’s historical standards. He became the 20th horse to win the Derby and the Irish Derby, a group that includes Lambourn’s sire, Australia, and grandsire, Galileo. A homebred, Lambourn is out of the Scat Daddy mare, Gossamer Wings.
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