Aidan O'Brien's Irish Derby Winners After Historic 17th Victory with Lambourn A gutsy success for Lambourn in Sunday's Irish Derby brought Aidan O'Brien's tally to an incredible 17 wins in the Curragh showpiece. The Ballydoyle maestro first won with Desert King in 1997 and he has enjoyed an incredible grip on the race this century. Just once in the last 23 years has O'Brien failed to have a finisher in the top three and Lambourn's win means it is three in a row for the handler and six of the last nine. Here's our reminder of O'Brien's Irish Derby heroes so far. BoyleSports Betting Offer If you already have a BoyleSports account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses Desert King — 1997 Christy Roche was the man on board as Desert King gave O'Brien his maiden win in the race in the colours of Michael Tabor. He also won the Irish 2000 Guineas that season but skipped the St Leger. Galileo — 2001 Mick Kinane won the first of his two Derbys for Ballydoyle on the brilliant Galileo, O'Brien's first Epsom-Curragh double winner, who went and won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot that same summer before one of the most incredible stud careers ever witnessed. High Chaparral — 2002 A son of Sadler's Wells, High Chaparral also achieved the Derby double 12 months later with Kinane on board. He would win successive Breeders' Cup Turf renewals in 2002/03 and an Irish Champion Stakes in '03. Dylan Thomas — 2006 Kieren Fallon was the man board in 2006 when Dylan Thomas kick-started what would be a run of seven straight Irish Derby wins for O'Brien. The Irish Champions Stakes (twice) and the '07 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe were added to his impressive CV. Soldier Of Fortune — 2007 The first of Galileo's offspring to win the Irish Derby was Soldier Of Fortune, who prepped by winning the Chester Vase and would later add a Coronation Cup in 2008. Seamie Heffernan was the man on board for the first of four wins in this race for the long-time Ballydoyle rider. Frozen Fire - 2008 Heffernan doubled up in '08 as Frozen Fire sprung a surprise at 16/1 having only finished 11th at Epsom earlier in the month. It would be the second and final win of his career, which ended with a stint in South Africa for Mike De Kock. Fame And Glory — 2009 A true superstar, Fame And Glory won this race under Johnny Murtagh and would be an Ascot Gold Cup and Long Distance Cup winner two years later having won the Coronation Cup at Epsom in 2010. Cape Blanco — 2010 Winner of York's Dante, Cape Blanco was down the field in the French Derby before bouncing back at the Curragh under Johnny Murtagh. He was second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot before winning the Irish Champion Stakes from odds-on stablemate Rip Van Winkle. Treasure Beach — 2011 Perhaps more famous for being second to Pour Moi at Epsom when Mickael Barzalona did 'that' celebration, Treasure Beach atoned at the Curragh with Colm O'Donoghue in the plate but it would be the final win of his career and he also ended his time with Mike De Kock. Camelot — 2012 A son of Montjeu, Camelot was unbeaten as he won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Epsom Derby and then this race in 2012 in the hands of Joseph O'Brien. He was odds-on to complete the Triple Crown at Doncaster but was denied by Encke in the St Leger and to this day no horse has come closer to bridging the gap to Nijinsky in landing that accolade. Australia — 2014 The second of Joseph's Derby wins for his father, Australia was a commanding winner both at Epsom and the Curragh after finishing third in the Guineas at Newmarket. He won the Juddmonte International at York that same summer and was retired after being turned over in the Irish Champion Stakes. Capri — 2017 Sixth as Wings Of Eagles won at Epsom, Capri won a quality Irish Derby under Heffernan in a game finish as he denied Cracksman under Pat Smullen with Ryan Moore and Wings Of Eagles in third in a blanket finish. Sovereign - 2019 The shock winner! Sovereign had just a Galway maiden to his name and was 33/1 under Padraig Beggy having acted as pacemaker at Epsom as Anthony Van Dyck won, but this time he slipped the field and the Epsom hero was six lengths down passing the line. Santiago — 2020 The pandemic meant this race was run before the Epsom Derby in 2020 and Santiago justified favouritism a mere eight days after winning the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot — both behind closed doors. Auguste Rodin — 2023 Ryan Moore finally won his first Irish Derby as banished memories of a laboured comeback in the Guineas at Newmarket by winning Derbys at Epsom and the Curragh. Los Angeles — 2024 Los Angeles, at odds of 13/8, shook off the challenge of Ambiente Friendly in the home straight with fellow British-trained challenger Sunway staying on for second. Lambourn — 2025 After a front-running masterclass at Epsom under Wayne Lordan saw Lambourn following up his Chester win, Ryan Moore took over at the Curragh and had to work incredibly hard to see off aptly-named stablemate Serious Contender.
