Lambourn, Dual Derby Winner, Poised for Great Voltigeur Test

Fresh off his brilliant triumphs at Epsom and The Curragh, the son of Australia gears up for the G1 St Leger

Lambourn Building Momentum at York Ahead of the St Leger / COOLMORE

YORKSHIRE, Inglaterra (Special for Turf Diario).- The opening day of the Ebor Festival at York will feature a special highlight with the renewal of the G2 Great Voltigeur S. (2400m, turf, 3yo), a race that for decades has served as the traditional springboard to the G1 St Leger. This year’s edition brings added star power with the presence of Lambourn (Ire), the dual Derby hero.

The Aidan O’Brien trainee, who captured both the G1 Derby at Epsom and the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh in commanding fashion, will return from a two-month break to reaffirm his dominance over the generation. His latest performance came at The Curragh, where he became Ballydoyle’s 22nd Irish Derby winner. With just five career starts under his belt, Lambourn arrives at York with a rating of 120 and will shoulder a 5-pound penalty as the consequence of his Classic double.

The opposition is far from soft. Chief among his challengers is the unbeaten Carmers (Ire) (Wootton Bassett), a Paddy Twomey-trained colt who impressed when stretching out to take the G2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot over 2800 meters. Dropping back in trip here, the dark bay has displayed both stamina and a lethal turn of foot, making him a serious threat if the pace proves testing.

Another key player is Pride of Arras (Ire) (New Bay), who landed the G2 Dante S. over this very course in May before disappointing in both the Derby and the G1 Grand Prix de Paris. A return to the Knavesmire could be just what he needs to rediscover his best form.

As is customary in these major targets, O’Brien will not rely solely on Lambourn. The master of Ballydoyle will also be represented by Mount Kilimanjaro (Ire) (Siyouni), Stay True (Ire) (Galileo), and Thrice (Ire) (Wootton Bassett), each capable of playing a tactical role depending on how the race unfolds. Ballydoyle has won the Voltigeur five times, and confidence is high that Lambourn can add another to the tally.

Conditions are expected to be Good to Firm, perfect ground for a colt who has shown his best when allowed to stride freely. At Epsom, he dictated throughout at a solid gallop before repelling all challengers in the straight, while at The Curragh he demonstrated patience and then quickened decisively in the final 300 meters. That tactical versatility may be his most valuable asset moving forward.

British analysts have him pegged as an odds-on favorite, and his name is already being mentioned prominently in connection with October’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the ultimate autumn target for Europe’s elite sophomores. First, however, he must handle this assignment at York, where he will be the first Derby winner to contest the Voltigeur since Reference Point (GB) (Mill Reff) back in 1987.