In the curtain-raiser to the Chester May Festival, Aidan O’Brien reaffirmed why he is still a force to be reckoned with in flat racing. His exciting pair—Minnie Hauk and Lambourn—posted commanding wins in the Cheshire Oaks and Chester Vase respectively, paving the way for a possible Classic sweep at Epsom next month.
Minnie Hauk: Ready for the Oaks
Minnie Hauk’s ride in the Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks was notable for its combination of calmness and underlying strength. While she did momentarily appear disturbed near the last turn, she reacted with maturity beyond her three years, picking up smartly in the home stretch to repel Secret Of Love.
Characterized by Ryan Moore as “raw but loaded with potential,” Minnie Hauk’s career is representative of O’Brien’s deliberate training philosophy—giving a filly’s natural talent the time to flourish with patience and assurance,.
Her breeding, as the daughter of Galileo and a top-class broodmare, affirms good hopes. With bookmakers cutting her odds for the Oaks, most racing enthusiasts now consider her one of the most promising fillies in O’Brien’s yard for the Classic campaign.
Lambourn: Grit, Gears, and Staying Power
Only a couple of races on, Lambourn—a hitherto under-the-radar colt—marked his name clearly in Derby contemplation with an impressive showing in the Boodles Chester Vase. Running wide for most of the race, the colt demonstrated a grown-up head by maintaining his rhythm, eschewing premature effort, and then kicking clear when requested.
His stride extended noticeably within the last furlong—a good sign for Epsom’s longer, more demanding trip. O’Brien highlighted the colt’s improvement after the race, stating: “He’s been learning all the time. What we saw today was a horse growing in confidence and intelligence.”
Setting the Stage for Epsom
Each has done more than merely win—their victories have sparked the dreams of punters and pundits, too. Only a month away from Epsom, and the O’Brien-Moore axis is proving to be once more the benchmark to beat by virtue of the stable filled with astute, well-brought-on performers.
As O’Brien looks on to further prep races and gallops at Ballydoyle, Minnie Hauk and Lambourn will be trained meticulously to peak at Epsom. If their Chester victories are anything to judge by, their Classic credentials are not only intact—they’re radiant.
