After his impressive win in the 2025 Derby, Lambourn is now being strongly considered for favouritism in this year’s St Leger Stakes. Trained by Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle, the colt showed a perfect mix of speed and stamina at Epsom and looks a natural candidate for the longer trip at Doncaster.
The St Leger Stakes 2025, the final Classic of the flat season, which is scheduled for September 13th, often demands something extra from a horse, and O’Brien has a long history of preparing his runners with this challenge in mind.
Lambourn’s performance in the Derby has already seen his live betting odds shorten, with several firms placing him among the front-runners for the Leger, even before final entries are confirmed.
With Ballydoyle’s track record in the race, including past winners like Capri and Milan, it’s no surprise that excitement is building. If Lambourn continues his upward curve, he may yet add a second Classic title to what’s shaping up to be a very strong season.
Of course, like all races, he will have a very strong field to contend with, so much so that, despite winning both the Epsom and Irish derbies, he isn’t even the favourite in this race.
That honour currently goes to stablemate, Scandinavia, who is fresh off the back of a win in the Goodwood Stakes Cup. So is it a sure thing that O’Brien will walk away with another St Leger win in 2025? Of course not. So let’s look at how it might all play out.
What Makes the St Leger Special?
The St Leger Stakes is more than just another big race; it’s the oldest of Britain’s five Classics, dating all the way back to 1776. Unlike the all-out speed of the 2,000 Guineas or the stamina-power blend of the Derby, the St Leger is a marathon at one mile, six furlongs and 115 yards.
The race is reserved for three-year-old colts and fillies. Both sexes compete, but geldings are not allowed.
It’s the final leg of the English Triple Crown, following the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby. Now, the distances get longer, the questions of stamina get bigger, and that’s why the St Leger has a reputation for weeding out pretenders from true stayers.
Lambourn, The Derby Hero and St Leger 2nd Favourite
Meet Lambourn, a colt that has had its share of ups and downs. He got off the mark as a two-year-old at Killarney, building on that with a gutsy win in the Listed Criterium de l’Ouest in France.
Though he didn’t shine in the Beresford Stakes at the end of his first season, he came right back as a three-year-old.
His real breakthrough came in the spring at Leopardstown in the Ballysax Stakes, finishing behind stablemate Delacroix. But don’t get fooled by that defeat. It set him up perfectly for the longer trips, the next of which was the Chester Vase.
Switched to jockey Ryan Moore and wearing the favourite’s tag, he proved not just tough but classy, outstaying all rivals to win in style.
Then came the Derby at Epsom. Lambourn led from the front and, never headed, drew away up the straight for a commanding victory.
He followed that up with yet another win, this time in the Irish Derby three weeks later at the Curragh, dictating at the highest level and staying on powerfully, which makes him exactly the profile you want for Doncaster.
Is He a Good Thing? Sizing Up the Rivals
It wouldn’t be the St Leger without a challenge. Lambourn might be one of the bookies’ picks, but plenty of talented horses want a say. Check the market and you’ll see a deep list of genuine threats, including stablemate Scandinavia.
Currently the ante-post favourite on near enough even odds, Scandinavia, the three-year-old colt, is owned by racing’s Coolmore heavyweights – Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs Susan Magnier.
If you’ve checked the market for the St Leger Stakes 2025, you’ll see his odds sitting right up there among the shortest, and for good reason.
Scandinavia is bred for both quality and stamina, being a son of American Triple Crown hero Justify out of a Galileo mare. That blend alone is enough to make racing fans take notice, but Scandinavia has converted those bloodlines into action on the racecourse.
His form this year is genuinely eye-catching. After a classic-building campaign as a juvenile, he found his feet as a three-year-old. He kicked off with a comfortable maiden win at Navan, showing raw ability. Things ramped up fast after that: he ran a cracker at Royal Ascot, beaten less than two lengths in a messy Group 2 Queen’s Vase, before coming right back at Newmarket in July.
There, in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy, Scandinavia absolutely romped home, putting more than eight lengths between himself and the runner-up, Nightime Dancer.
If that wasn’t enough, he then took his game to Goodwood and landed the Group 1 Goodwood Cup, outbattling older horses over two miles. That’s seriously top-class staying form for a three-year-old, and it means stamina will not be a question mark for the St Leger.
Winning at Goodwood shows he doesn’t mind a battle or a step up in trip, both key for Doncaster.
Why are his odds so short? Simply, Scandinavia is peaking at the right time, progressing with every run, and doing it against some of the best around. He’s tough, genuine, and looks to have more to offer. There’s also very little doubt about his ability to see out the “Leger trip,” which can undo so many contenders.
Others in Contention
Carmers brings serious Group 1 placed form at double-figure odds, Minnie Hauk and Mount Kilimanjaro (also O’Brien-trained) have shown stamina and class on their day, while Lazy Griff and Pinhole come into the race off strong efforts in top company.
Arabian Force and Rahiebb are trained by William Haggas and Roger Varian respectively, two top operators who know what it takes to win at this level. Both horses have posted big speed figures and have the sort of consistency you need to be a contender.
Still, Lambourn looks to have the ideal combination of Derby-winning class and the stamina required for Doncaster’s searching 1m6f+ test. It all adds up to a compelling contest with nothing handed on a plate, but a genuine sporting challenge for every runner.
Final Word
Whether you’re a seasoned punter or a once-a-year racegoer, the St Leger Stakes 2025 is worth your attention. Its history is unmatched, its test of stamina unique among the Classics, and this year’s renewal looks like a vintage crop led by one of the most exciting Derby winners in years.
Lambourn’s connections will know there’s nothing easy about landing two legs of the Triple Crown, but with Aidan O’Brien on their side and the right horse for the job, they’ve every reason to dream.
We’ll all be tuning in to see whether Lambourn can make history on September 13th, or if one of his talented rivals has the staying power to pull off the upset. Either way, it should be some race, and you won’t want to miss it
