The first weekend in June marked the latest instalment in the 2025 Classic collection. Following the 1m showstoppers of the 1000 and 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the action switched to Epsom as we moved up in trip for the Derby and Oaks. With team Godolphin having painted the Guineas meeting blue, would we be in for more of the same in the 1m4f Classics?
The betting market suggested there was every chance that Charlie Appleby, William Buick, and co would be celebrating in Surrey. The 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower was the clear favourite for the Oaks, whilst 2000 Guineas champ Ruling Court featured towards the head of the Derby market. Alas, it was not to be for the Sheikh Mohamed Al Maktoum-backed operation, as the Derby Festival stuck to a script we have read so many times before.
Aidan O’Brien held entries in only three races at the Derby Festival as he channelled his considerable powers towards the Group 1 trio of the Derby, Oaks, and Coronation Cup. As strong as the O’Brien team looked on paper, the Ballydoyle maestro saddled the favourite in only one of the top-tier events. No matter to the Coolmore colossus, who displayed once again that he is a trainer beyond compare at this meeting. Three Group 1 trophies were up for grabs. All three headed back to County Tipperary.
Brueghel Back to His Best in Coronation Cup
| Position | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jan Brueghel | 10/3 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien |
| 2nd | Calandagan | 8/13 | Mickael Barzalona | F-H Graffard |
| 3rd | Giavellotto | 11/2 | Oisin Murphy | Marco Botti |
A fine example of the strength in depth at the O’Brien yard came in the 2025 Coronation Cup. At the start of the season, Illinois was the horse pencilled in for this assignment. However, following the retirement of star stayer Kyprios, Illinois was shunted up the ladder to become O’Brien’s leading Gold Cup hope.
Turning to his subs bench for this 1m4f event, O’Brien found the 2024 St. Leger winner, Jan Brueghel, ready and willing to step into battle. Deciding his 1m6f Classic hero needed a pacemaker to ensure a true test at the trip, O’Brien added the name of 2023 St. Leger winner Continuous to the field. We aren’t sure how many times a Classic winner has been deployed as a pacemaker in the past, but it can’t have been many.
Despite O’Brien’s best-laid plans, the market suggested both Jan Brueghel and Continuous may struggle to lower the colours of the French star, Calandagan. Hailing from the yard of Francis-Henri Graffard, the Aga Khan Studs-owned colt started as the 8/13F to claim a first career Group 1.
As predicted, Continuous set out to make the running and still held the lead into the straight. However, Jan Brueghel swept past at the 2f pole and, like so many sons and daughters of Galileo, he would not be passed – staying on best to deny Calandagan by a half-length.
Already the most successful trainer in the history of the race, O’Brien now has ten Coronation Cup wins to his name.
Minnie Marvelous in Oaks
| Position | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Minnie Hauk | 9/2 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien |
| 2nd | Whirl | 15/2 | Wayne Lordan | Aidan O’Brien |
| 3rd | Desert Flower | 11/10 | William Buick | Charlie Appleby |
If Godolphin were to add a third 2025 Classic to their haul, the market suggested it was most likely to come in the Oaks. Desert Flower headed into 2025 with a perfect four-from-four record, including a Group 1 victory in the Fillies’ Mile. That winning sequence extended to five with an authoritative success in the Guineas. All of which pointed to a filly who may be tough to beat in the Oaks…if she stayed the trip. By a 2000 Guineas winner, there was room for doubt on the pedigree front, but connections appeared optimistic that she would see out the distance. The betting market concurred with this view, with Desert Flower sent off as the 11/10 favourite.
In the end, Desert Flower ran well to finish third. However, whereas she appeared to reach the end of her stamina close home, the Ryan Moore-ridden Minnie Hauk was never stronger than at the line. Stablemate Whirl put up a valiant fight, but the daughter of Frankel had too many guns and scored by a cosy neck.
Oaks win number eleven for Aidan O’Brien, who is now only two behind all-time leader Robert Robson. For Minnie Hauk – who began the race as the lowest-rated of the O’Brien trio – a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe may be the ultimate goal. She is a general 20/1 shot for the Longchamp showpiece following this display.
Lordan and Lambourn Derby Delight
| Position | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lambourn | 13/2 | Wayne Lordan | Aidan O’Brien |
| 2nd | Lazy Griff | 50/1 | Christophe Soumillon | Charlie Johnston |
| 3rd | Tennessee Stud | 28/1 | Dylan Browne McMonagle | Joseph Patrick O’Brien |
Last but not least, the race they all want to win. As coveted as the Coronation Cup and Oaks are, they are a notch below the Epsom Derby when it comes to global prestige and the breeding value bestowed upon the winner.
Following the late withdrawal of the 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court, a significant obstacle was removed from O’Brien’s path. However, he still had the Dante Stakes 1-2, an unbeaten French star, and a whole host of potential improvers to contend with.
In a race crammed with compelling storylines, the ending provided a sense of déjà vu. Just as he had on ten occasions in the past, O’Brien proved impossible to master on the biggest day of the British flat racing year. However, the exact manner in which he won the race wasn’t as many expected.
Market leader and choice of Ryan Moore, Delacroix, never got into it following a tardy start, whilst Dante disappointment, The Lion In Winter, once again looked a shadow of the colt who had taken the juvenile division by storm. However, O’Brien still had the ace in the pack up his sleeve in the shape of Lambourn. Given a truly masterful frontrunning ride by Wayne Lordan, the son of 2014 winner Australia blitzed the field on his way to a stunning 3¾l success.
Having exploded on the big stage, Lambourn is now odds on across the board to follow up in the Irish Derby and the clear favourite for the St. Leger at Doncaster later in the year. Now sitting on a scarcely credible 47 British Classic wins, one suspects it won’t be long until the living legend reaches the magic 50.