Lambourn Dominates Epsom Derby, O'Brien Wins His 11th

Lambourn (IRE) maintained Aidan O'Brien's stranglehold on the Epsom Derby (G1) by coming out on top. He gave his trainer a third consecutive victory in the race and a record-extending 11th success overall. The colt had been beaten at Leopardstown in March by stablemate and favorite Delacroix (IRE), who was the chosen mount of Ryan Moore at Epsom Downs Racecourse. But he won the Chester Vase Stakes (G3) next time out and followed up four weeks later under Wayne Lordan, making all to win his first Derby. His victory was achieved in spectacular style as Lambourn set a strong pace and the jockey said: "I knew I'd gone a good gallop but his ears were pricked and I knew he had plenty left. "He's a horse we always felt would stay. I just thought that anybody who would get to me would have to stay well and it would be tough for them. "My horse was going forward underneath me so I thought it would take a fair one to come and get him." It was Lordan's ninth ride in the Derby and the jockey, who had given Whirl (IRE) a similarly enterprising ride when finishing second in the Epsom Oaks (G1) 24 hours earlier, said: "This is one of the greatest races, for any jockey that starts out all they ever want to do is win a Derby. I'm in a lucky position that I get to ride a horse like this." "Wayne gave him an incredible ride," said O'Brien, who also won the Oaks with Minnie Hauk (IRE) June 6. "He's been a great fella, he's done so much hard work through all the years. "Everybody knew what he was going to do. Lambourn is very straightforward, Wayne knew he'd stay. He was obviously expecting something to come and challenge him but he's a very genuine horse. I'm delighted for Wayne, I couldn't be happier." The 13-2 shot Lambourn passed the post 3 3/4 lengths clear of Lazy Griff (GER), who was a 50-1 shot but was the only one who ever looked like getting to the winner. He was a length clear of third-placed Tennessee Stud (IRE), with New Ground (GB) fourth and Stanhope Gardens (IRE) fifth. Delacroix started 2-1 favorite for O'Brien and Ryan Moore but finished ninth. The winner is 4-5 favorite (from 8-1) for the Irish Derby (G1) with Paddy Power, who make him 3-1 favorite (from 8-1) for the St Leger (G1). Ruling Court Scratched, Ascot Next Hopes of a first Triple Crown winner in 55 years were washed away as rain-softened ground caused Ruling Court, the United States-bred son of Justify, to be pulled out of the Derby. Underfoot conditions at Epsom were deemed unsuitable for Godolphin's colt and he was withdrawn more than an hour and a half before the race. Ruling Court had been disputing favoritism for the Derby ever since his victory in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket last month. Success for William Buick's mount would have put him two-thirds of the way towards earning a £2 million bonus from Derby sponsor Betfred, which would have been paid out had he gone on to collect the St Leger at Doncaster in September. No horse has won all three colts' classics in Britain since Nijinsky in 1970—and he was the first to complete the Triple Crown since Bahram in 1935. Trainer Charlie Appleby, whose Desert Flower (IRE) was beaten favorite for the Oaks, said on ITV: "It's very disappointing. As we know the horse was prepped towards this race and he's in great nick. The ground conditions were a concern yesterday with the filly, and William said it rode good to soft. "There was rain overnight on opened ground. We arrived here with an open mind, that we'd let William ride in the first race. He felt it was riding genuine good to soft ground. Collectively the other jockeys were on the same page. "Stamina was an unknown for us and we felt that what we saw in the Guineas on quick ground and the way he quickened that day, it was not going to be the ground for him today to be testing him over a mile and a half, bearing in mind that we've hopefully got a fruitful summer in front of us. We've got Ascot and the Eclipse just around the corner." Asked about likely new targets for Ruling Court, Appleby said: "We'll let everything settle for the next 24 hours but I'd imagine the plan would be to take a good strong view of the St James's Palace Stakes and the Eclipse thereafter."