247                                 LAMBOURN                                 2025

Run on Saturday, 7 June, 2025 as the Betfred Derby over the Derby Course of one mile and a half and 6 yards, Epsom Downs. For three-year-olds; entire colts 9st 2lb, fillies 8st 13lb. 93 entries. Value to winner £909,628.40

1^st     LAMBOURN                    Wayne Lordan                         13-2

2^nd    LAZY GRIFF                   Christophe Soumillon              50-1      3¾ lengths

3^rd    TENNESSE STUD            Dylan Browne McMonagle    28-1       1 length

 Also ran: 4^th  New Ground (Alexis Pouchin) 50-1; Stanhope Gardens (Hector Crouch) 12-1; Tornado Alert (Oisin Murphy) 40-1; Green Storm (Billy Loughnane) 50-1; Nightime Dancer (Jamie Spencer) 100-1; Delacroix (Ryan Moore) 2-1 Fav; Midak (Mickael Barzalona) 9-1; Sea Scout (Harry Davies) 125-1; Nightwalker (Tom Marquand) 40-1 (tailed off); Rogue Impact (Luke Morris) 200-1 (tailed off); The Lion In Winter (Colin Keane) 7-1 (tailed off); Al Wasl Storm (David Probert) 20-1 (tailed off); Tuscan Hills (David Egan) 40-1 (tailed off); Pride Of Arras (Rossa Ryan) 4-1(tailed off); Damysus (James Doyle) 16-1 (tailed off  last 52¼ lengths behind the winner).

Non Runner: Ruling Court (unsuitable ground).

 Commentary: With a choice of Aidan O’Brien’s three, Ryan Moore chose Delacroix, who as a juvenile was beaten a nose in the Doncaster Futurity. Later, following up with victories in the Ballysax Stakes and the Leopardstown Derby Trial Stakes, he went off the 2-1 Derby favourite. At 7-1, also from the O’Brien yard: The Lion In Winter, the long-time Derby favourite beset with training problems and a poor showing in the Dante Stakes. Finally Lambourn, winner of the Chester Vase, beating Lazy Griff, then backed into third favourite for the Derby at 13-2. Pride Of Arras, winner of the Dante Stakes was well supported into 4-1.

Eighteen runners went to post and the commentators “The’re Off”, was met with a great cheer.

Soon after leaving the stalls, Lambourn was pushed through to lead from Lazy Griff, Midak and Damysus. The order remained unchanged down to Tattenham Corner, where Lambourn led Sea Scout, with a break of four lengths back to Midak, Lazy Griff and Tuscan Hills.

From three furlongs out, Lambourn, now three clear, continued to blaze away in the manor of Slip Anchor and was not for catching. With Sea Scout and Lazy Griff in vain pursuit, Lambourn extended his lead the further they went.

Lazy Griff once second, stuck to his task, but could make no impression on the winner. Tennessee Stud made late headway to finish third, whilst New Ground took fourth in the final strides,

Delacroix, never got into the race after being hampered and was taken back. Pride Of Arras made no impression from his wide draw and was never able to settle. The Lion In Winter, also drawn wide, pulled hard and weakened early in the straight.                                        18 ran    Time 2min 38.50 sec

This was Aidan O’Brien’s record eleventh Derby winner and Mrs John (Sue) Magnier and Michael Tabor’s 12th in partnership.

Wayne Lordan and Lambourn – The conquering heroes.

The winner was BRED by Coolmore, OWNED by Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith and TRAINED by A.P. O’Brien at Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

The winner, LAMBOURN, has won 4 races from 6 starts incl. Boodles Chester Vase, Betfred Derby, Epsom; second to Delacroix in the P. W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes, Leopardstown.

The sire, AUSTRALIA (ch.c. 2011), won 5 races from 8 starts incl. ICON Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Trial Stakes, Leopardstown, Investec Derby, Epsom, Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, Juddmonte International Stakes, York. Third in QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas Stakes.

The dam, GOSSAMER WINGS (b.f. 2016) by SCAT DADDY ex LAVENDER BABY, won 1race from 14 starts. She also bred ENTHRALLING -.f. 2021 by GALILEO, placed 3 times from 7 starts.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The new Derby poem by Michael Church

Starting a new Derby tradition, Michael’s revised Derby poem is to be played on course and broadcast on TV as the Derby runners are circling, waiting to enter the stalls.

The poem to be read by a different famous personality each year to continue the tradition.

Click below to hear Richard Hoiles’s reading of Derby Day.

Derby Day

Today is Derby Day!

The Thoroughbred’s in bloom,

A nation’s hopes ride strong and proud

This late spring afternoon.

The plans, the trials, the joy, the tears

Have happened all before;

The race has run for two four six years

And shall for many more.

Whether in the Queen’s Stand high,

Or out across the Downs,

Or strolling through the fairground,

The magic still resounds.

It’s speed and heart, it’s fine and flight,

A test of nerve and grace-

Where history gallops into view,

And heroes find their place

The silks shine bright, the crowd holds breath,

The tension fills the air –

You place your bet…they’re moving in…

The Derby’s nearly there.

MICHAEL CHURCH

Official Derby Historian

248                                MINNIE HAUK                             2025 

RUN on Friday, 6 June 2025, as the Betfred Oaks, over the Derby Course of one mile and a half and 6 yards, Epsom Downs. For three-year-old fillies, 9st 2lb. Value to winner £335, 033.36

1^st   MINNIE HAUK                        Ryan Moore               9-2

2^nd  WHIRL                                      Wayne Lordan          15-2                 Neck

3^rd  DESERT FLOWER                  William Buick          11-10 Fav           4 lengths

Also ran:

4^th Wemightakedlongway (Dylan Browne McMonagle) 16-1; Giselle (Colin Keane) 13-2; Revoir (Hector Crouch) 22-1 (tailed off); El Wateen (Jim Crowley) 14-1 (tailed off); Qilin Queen (Tom Marquand) 20-1 (tailed off); Go Go Boots (Oisin Murphy) 33-1 (tailed off, last).

 Commentary: Desert Flower, having won the May Hill at Doncaster and the Fillies Mile at Newmarket as a juvenile, cemented her Classic claims by winning the 1,000 Guineas. And although starting the Oaks as the 11-10 favourite, a few pedigree buffs doubted her ability to stay the distance. Minnie Hawk (by Frankel out of a Dansili mare), from the Aiden O’Brien yard, having won the Cheshire Oaks, had no such doubts and started 9-2 second favourite. While her stable companion Whirl, winner of the Musidora at York went off at  15-2.  To protect the ground inside the repositioned running rail for the following days Derby, an estimated 14 yards were added.

Off and running, Whirl was pushed to the front, chased up by Minnie Hauk, Wemightakedlongway and Desert Flower.  Continuing to the highest part of the course, Whirl extended her lead over Minnie Hauk to 3 lengths, with Wemightakedlongway and Desert Flower a little over a length behind.

The order maintained until 2 furlongs out from where Minnie Hauk joined Whirl to fight out an exciting finish, Moore and Lordan giving their best, until Minnie Hauk prevailed in the last few strides. Further behind, Desert Flower rallied to take third, a length ahead of Wemightakedlongway.

    9 ran. Time 2min 38.91 sec

BRED by B.V. Sangster.

OWNED by Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor. 

TRAINED by A.P. O’Brien at Cashel, Co Tipperary.

This was Mrs John Magnier’s 10^th Oaks winner in partnership and Aidan O’Brien’s 11th Oaks winner.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The winner, MINNIE HAUK (b.f. 2022), has won 3 races from 4 starts incl, Cheshire Oaks, Chester and the Betfred Oaks, Epsom.

The sire, FRANKEL (b.c. 2008) ex KIND by DANEHILL, (unbeaten), won 14 races incl. Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, St James’s Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, (twice), Queen Anne Stakes, International Stakes, Champion Stakes. Sire of 7 British Classic winners, incl. 3 Oaks winners since retiring to Judmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud in 2013: ANAPURNA , 2019 Oaks; LOGICIAN, 2019 St Leger, ADAYAR, 2021 Derby, HURRICANE LANE, 2021 St Leger, CHALDEAN 2023 , 2000 Guineas, SOUL SISTER, 2023 Oaks and MINNIE HAUK 2025 Oaks.

The dam, MULTILINGUAL (b.f. 2012) by DANSILI, a half-sister to KINGMAN, she also bred TILSIT, won 3 races from 8 starts incl. Gp 2 Summer Mile Stakes, Ascot.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________