Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore completed an unprecedented clean sweep of all pattern races at the Chester May festival on Friday, winning every top-level contest at the three-day meeting.
The duo extended their winning streak at the fixture to 12 consecutive races since May 2024, with Moore guiding Lambourn to victory in the Huxley Stakes. The win followed earlier successes with Amelia Earhart (Cheshire Oaks), Benvenuto Cellini (Chester Vase), Constitution River (Dee Stakes), and Jan Brueghel (Ormonde Stakes).
Lambourn, last year's Derby winner, was making his first start since finishing fourth in the St Leger. Dropping back in distance from 1m6f to an extended 1m2f, the colt was ridden aggressively from the front and held on by a neck from Bay City Roller.
Kevin Buckley, representing owners Coolmore, said: "That was class. Ryan is a genius and a true professional. We are fortunate enough to have lots of winners here but that's the first time we have won the five pattern races, so it's quite a special day."
Moore added: "He won the Vase here last year so we knew he would go round the track. He's had a long time off and it's hard when they are going back from a mile six to a mile and a quarter. You'd be happy with him. He was probably having a laugh the whole way round there."
