Four of Aidan O’Brien’s biggest wins in Britain this season
As we approach the midway stages of the 2025 flat racing season, few trainers have enjoyed as dominant a campaign as Aidan O’Brien.
From Classic triumphs to Group 1 success, the master of Ballydoyle has once again underlined his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
With almost £4 million in prize money racked up already, we’re going to look back at four of O’Brien’s biggest victories in Britain this year—and the significance behind each.
Coronation Cup: Jan Brueghel
St Leger winner Jan Brueghel bounced back from his second in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes at the Curragh on reappearance with another top-level success in the Coronation Cup at Epsom.
Second favourite in the market behind odds-on French raider Calandagan, the four-year-old was still a popular choice with those who had taken advantage of their top free bets and backed the O’Brien charge.
Jan Brueghel was pushed out to lead two furlongs from home and stayed on gamely back over one mile and four furlongs to hold off the Francis Henri Graffard-trained challenger by half a length in a thrilling finish.
Oaks: Minnie Hauk
On the same day as her Ballydoyle stablemate’s success in the Coronation Cup, Minnie Hauk landed an 11th Epsom Oaks for O’Brien—marking his first win in the prestigious Fillies’ Classic since Tuesday’s triumph in 2022.
1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower was the short-priced favourite for the contest, but questions were asked about her staying power over one mile and four furlongs, and she was no match for O’Brien’s 1-2 in the Oaks.
15/2 shot Whirl, with Wayne Lordan in the saddle, gave Minnie Hauk and Ryan Moore a good run for her money inside the final furlongs, but the latter pair just about did enough to win by a neck at the line.
Derby: Lambourn
While Lordan missed out on Classic success 24 hours earlier, the Irish jockey had his crowning moment in the most elite race of them all—winning the Epsom Derby for the first time aboard Lambourn.
The son of Australia was technically O’Brien’s third-string runner with start-price odds of 13/2, as those free bets preferred race favourite Delacroix with their free bets, but Lambourn made easy work of the Derby field.
The three-year-old made virtually all the running in the one-mile and four-furlong contest, opening a lead by three lengths at the three-furlong marker and was never going to be caught by any of his rivals as he stormed to an 11th Derby win for his trainer.
Eclipse: Delacroix
Bouncing back from his disappointing run in the Derby, finishing ninth and 16 lengths behind the winner, Delacroix was dropped back to one mile and two furlongs for the Eclipse and scored in jaw-dropping fashion.
6/4 favourite Ombudsman looked to have the race wrapped up for John and Thady Gosden as the Godolphin-owned horse pulled away from The Lion In Winter under William Buick, but Delacroix came from nowhere to win by a neck.
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O’Brien’s four Group 2 wins at Royal Ascot in the Coventry with Gstaad, True Love in the Queen Mary, Charles Darwin in the Norfolk and Ribblesdale Stakes with Garden Of Eden are also worth mentioning.