Moore Continues Irish Derby Meeting Dominance Despite Lambourn's Workmanlike Performance Ryan Moore won his third successive Irish Derby with a superbly tenacious ride on Lambourn that required all of the jockeys' urgings to get home in front. Moore had a relaxing week from Royal Ascot to the Curragh's three-day Derby meeting, going to Newmarket on Thursday for his only rides, but he was in top form at Ireland's home of Flat racing. Over three days, Moore rode 12 horses, all bar one for his boss Aidan O'Brien, and he brought home five winners and three seconds, including Group 1s on Saturday and Sunday. Midnite Betting Offer If you already have a Midnite account, check out more of the best betting sites and online casinos Derby delight for Moore Moore had won the previous two Irish Derbys on Auguste Rodin and Los Angeles, his first win in the race, and he brought up the hat-trick in determined fashion on Sunday afternoon as Lambourn followed Auguste Rodin in completing the Epsom-Curragh double, the 20th time that it has been done. The margin at the line was three parts of a length, but it was an agonising final half-mile for anyone who backed Lambourn at 8/13. Moore was always cajoling from an early stage as they once more set the fractions, pestered all the way by Sir Dinadan, and from the entrance to the home straight, he really had to get serious with Lambourn. Seemingly under pressure soon after the final bend, Lambourn woke up sufficiently in the closing furlong to deny stablemate Serious Contender, emulating his sire Australia and joining an elite band of O'Brien-trained dual Derby heroes. The list now includes Lambourn alongside Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Camelot (2012), Australia (2014) and the aforementioned Auguste Rodin. "He's just a very relaxed horse," said Moore. "He was having a bit of a laugh with me. He was only doing a minimum of what he could get away with. "He hasn't done a huge amount there. I just have to keep him awake. He was just a bit lazy, but he has loads of ability and was always in control." Whirl stands up in Pretty Polly A day earlier, Moore got the Epsom Oaks runner-up Whirl home in front in the Group 1 Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes, denying Champion Stakes winner Kalpana with a rallying effort in the final 150 yards after Colin Keane had hit the front in Andrew Balding's filly. It was a third career win in the Pretty Polly for Moore, after Promising Land in 2008 and Minding in 2016. A year ago, Bluestocking took this event before going on to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe glory at Longchamp. Following her win at the Curragh, Whirl was promoted towards the head of the betting for the French contest in the autumn. She beat the year older odds-on favourite Kalpana by a length and a quarter and promptly had her Arc odds halved to 10/1. Her win was a landmark for Moore as he registered the 150th success at Group 1 level in his partnership with O'Brien. Options remain fluid for the Wootton Bassett filly, who could return for the Irish Oaks or head to Glorious Goodwood for the Nassau Stakes. Moore's the man at the Curragh Elsewhere, Moore justified favouritism on Dorsey in a maiden on Saturday alongside getting Beautify home in front of odds-on jolly Lady Iman in the Airlie Stud Stakes under a front-running ride. On Sunday, before his Derby win, the pilot landed the €60,000 top prize on Skukuza in the Listed Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes for trainer Ed Dunlop — his only outside ride of the weekend. His three runner-up finishes include being denied a short-head as Flushing Meadows was beaten by the gutsy Suzie Songs in the Anglesey Stakes.
