Weekend Review

Hats off to Aidan O'Brien and the Ballydoyle team for producing Lambourn at the top of his game to provide the stable with a record breaking eleventh win in the Epsom Derby. The son of Australia has improved markedly since stepped up to middle distances winning the Group 3 Chester Vase en route to Classic glory. Indeed, with a juvenile profile which included finishing last of five in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh when sporting blinkers, he was never going to figure in the Top 40 Prospects in AOTF. However, following an encouraging reappearance over ten furlongs at Leopardstown in late March, he hasn't looked back. Given a fine front running ride by Wayne Lordan, similar to the 2020 winner Serpentine, Lambourn maintained a decent gallop and seemingly had Flat racing's Blue Riband within his grasp entering the homestraight. Stamina was never going to be an issue and he completely outclassed his seventeen rivals winning by upwards of three and three quarters of a length. As a spectacle, the race failed to live up to its billing with so many fancied runners failing to show up. One couldn't help feeling the race proved a huge anti-climax. The relatively sparse crowd on the in-field didn't help matters either with a distinct lack of atmosphere reported by those who attended. The five days at Royal Ascot later this month will hopefully provide the Flat season the shot in the arm it needs. 

The rest of the card at Epsom on Saturday hardly set the pulse racing. One of the most exciting performances over the weekend was supplied by the unbeaten Remmooz in the seven furlongs novice stakes at Doncaster. The son of Blue Point, who cost 250,000gns as a yearling, had scored narrowly over the same C&D last month and improved on that effort here. Owen Burrows runner made smooth headway with quarter of a mile to run before quickly putting the race to bed. A three lengths winner from the well regarded debutant Circios under a penalty, he looks ready for a rise in class. The Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot (21st June) may come too soon but he looks up to competing at Pattern level. 

On Sunday, the admirable Hamish made it 13 wins from 25 starts when taking the Listed Tapster Stakes at Goodwood on Sunday. The nine year old was making his seasonal reappearance and he battled on courageously to beat Military Academy by a neck. It was his tenth Pattern race victory, which is a remarkable achievement.

Hamish is trained by William Haggas and I will be contacting the head of Somerville Lodge this week with regard to his runners at Royal Ascot. Regular subscribers to the AOTF Royal Ascot Update will be aware that William has kindly sent through his list of entries over the five days for the last decade at least. Twelve months ago, that list contained Unequal Love in the Wokingham Stakes and subscribers were advised to take the 25/1 on offer at the time of publishing. The rest, as they say, is history. 

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