Every year, punters and pundits try to decode what goes on in the parade ring at Epsom – searching for clues, signs, or subtle signals that might lead to glory in the Derby.
This year, few were pointing to Lambourn. He began Derby Day as a general 11/1 chance, eventually going off at 13/2 after some quiet market support.
On paper, he was Aidan O’Brien’s third-string runner behind hot favourite Delacroix and the well-touted The Lion In Winter.
But as many horse racing bets were sunk, it was Lambourn who soared, delivering a front-running masterclass under Wayne Lordan to claim the 2025 Derby.
Yet while the result was a triumph for tactical riding and elite pedigree, the question now becomes: how does Lambourn stack up against O’Brien’s illustrious list of Derby champions?
Born to Win: A Look at the Pedigree
Lambourn’s win may have surprised many, but his bloodline suggests it was almost inevitable.
By 2014 Derby winner Australia, himself a son of the legendary Galileo, Lambourn boasts a direct lineage to two of the most influential names in modern Flat racing.
Galileo, who won the Derby in 2001, has sired five Derby winners, including Australia. That makes Lambourn the first of Australia’s sons to follow in his sire’s footsteps at Epsom, completing a remarkable generational treble.
His pedigree made him born for the Derby but was his performance befitting of the best to carry Coolmore’s silks to glory?
The Race Itself
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lambourn | Aidan O’Brien | Wayne Lordan |
| 2nd | Lazy Griff | Charlie Johnston | Christophe Soumillon |
| 3rd | Tennessee Stud | Joseph Patrick O’Brien | Dylan Browne McMonagle |
In truth, the 2025 Derby will not go down as one of the most competitive or deep renewals in recent memory.
There was no standout superstar, and the form lines of many contenders were open to interpretation. That said, Lambourn’s win was tactically brilliant.
Lordan judged things to perfection, sending his mount to the front early and taking full advantage of the colt’s proven stamina.
The fractions weren’t blistering, nor was the win achieved in eye-catching sectionals, but it was a dominant performance, a wire-to-wire success with over three lengths back to the nearest challenger.
He didn’t just win; he controlled the race, and that deserves recognition.
Ranking Among the Greats
So, where does Lambourn sit among O’Brien’s 11 Derby winners? He doesn’t touch the top tier – Galileo, High Chaparral, Camelot, or even Australia himself. Those horses either had standout two-year-old campaigns, went on to prove themselves over multiple distances, or achieved further Classic success.
Nor does Lambourn carry the same aura as Auguste Rodin or City Of Troy, who both backed up their Derby wins with victories at Group 1 level beyond Epsom.
Instead, Lambourn currently ranks closer to O’Brien’s “one-hit wonders” like Ruler Of The World (2013) and Serpentine (2020), horses that peaked on the day but didn’t necessarily dominate before or after.
Placing Lambourn around ninth out of 11 may seem harsh, but it reflects the slightly below-par nature of the field and the absence of a true test beyond his front-running control.
That said, the season is far from over. He could yet prove his critics wrong with success in the Irish Derby, the King George, or even the Arc.