O’Brien Relishing ‘Independent Thinker’ Lambourn’s Quest For Derby Double

[Wandering Eyes]

Cock Of The North at Ballydoyle in the present moment, Lambourn heads to Sunday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh looking to emulate his sire Australia in completing the notable double. A most unlikely Blue Riband hero at this stage last term, the ever-improving colt now sits pretty having mastered the ultimate test. Providing a blueprint of how to perform in a Derby three weeks ago, he is likely to be even better suited by this more conventional galloping track and has few if any weaknesses.

With Doncaster's St Leger mooted by Aidan O'Brien in the immediate aftermath of his great triumph, the one who put aside boyish tardiness to become the complete galloping machine should have no problem being asked to do it all again. Taking on once more by the Derby second and third Lazy Griff (Protectionist) and Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett) and joined by four others from the yard including the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master (Camelot), Lambourn is reunited with Ryan Moore for only the second time which tells the tale of how unexpected his rise through the Ballydoyle ranks has been.

“He's a lovely horse and like Australia himself, an absolute gentleman,” commented O'Brien, who is looking for Irish Derby number 17. “He has a great mind, stays well and is uncomplicated. He's a lovely horse to do anything with and he's just one of those very unique horses–he's scopey and classy and obviously we were delighted with him in Epsom.”

“Australia was the only horse we ever had here with no fight-or-flight response and this horse is the same. When you put him in first gear he stays in first gear and second gear is the same and third, fourth up along. He's not influenced by any of his surroundings or any horse around him–he's a total independent thinker and those type of horses are really a pleasure to deal with.”

Ralph Beckett will be hoping that the Aykroyds' G2 Dante Stakes winner Pride Of Arras (New Bay) can do what several others who hated Epsom can do here and put a poor Derby effort behind him, while Marc Chan's homebred Green Impact (Wootton Bassett) is one of the race's lurkers moving up markedly in trip.

The Aykroyds' racing manager Patrick Cooper said of Pride Of Arras, “He's come out of Epsom well, we're just still scratching our heads why he ran so badly. It's a bit of a mystery, he obviously didn't handle the hill and Rossa was easy on him once he knew he couldn't participate in the finish, but we still don't know truly what went wrong, so we can go to the Curragh and hopefully find out more there. Hopefully we get the horse back who showed us how good he was in the Dante, he was impressive that day and we're entitled to keep dreaming.”

Green Impact's trainer Jessica Harrington said, “I think he'll stay. He's by Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare and is very laid-back and relaxed. He's a big, long-striding horse and the Curragh should suit him.”

Sunday's other big race is the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, where Calandagan (Gleneagles), Goliath (Adlerflug) and Aventure (Sea The Stars) take part in a renewal that will prove tactically fascinating as the high-class trio prepare for their upcoming international tests. The G2 Prix Eugene Adam on the card is another tantalising affair, with the unbeaten Aga Khan Studs representative Daryz (Sea The Stars) pitched against last year's G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes winner Scorthy Champ (Mehmas), Victorious Racing's G2 Champagne Stakes scorer Bay City Roller (New Bay) and the Wertheimers' exciting Sinileo (Siyouni) who is held in such high regard by connections.

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