Andy Newton

How Many Epsom Derby Winners Have Won The Irish Derby? As Christmas Day Hopes To Be The Next

by
Andy Newton
23 June 2026

Winning the Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs is considered the ultimate test for a three-year-old colt, but only a select group of horses have managed to follow up at the Curragh and complete the famous Epsom-Irish Derby double.

20 Horses Have Won Both The Epsom and Irish Derby

In the long history of the two great Classics, just 20 horses have achieved the feat, underlining just how difficult it is to dominate both races within the space of a few weeks.

The challenge of backing up a hard race at Epsom, travelling to Ireland and handling different race conditions means many Derby winners have been beaten at the Curragh.

The first horse to complete the double was Orby in 1907, giving Ireland its first Epsom Derby winner before going on to land the Irish equivalent later the same season.

However, it would be another 57 years before the next dual winner arrived when Santa Claus completed the double in 1964.

Since then, some of the greatest middle-distance horses of the modern era have etched their names into racing history by winning both races.

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Complete List of Epsom and Irish Derby Double Winners (20)

1907 – Orby
1964 – Santa Claus
1970 – Nijinsky
1975 – Grundy
1977 – The Minstrel
1978 – Shirley Heights
1979 – Troy
1981 – Shergar
1986 – Shahrastani
1988 – Kahyasi
1991 – Generous
1993 – Commander In Chief
2000 – Sinndar
2001 – Galileo
2002 – High Chaparral
2012 – Camelot
2014 – Australia
2016 – Harzand
2023 – Auguste Rodin
2025 – Lambourn

Nijinsky (1970)

The legendary Nijinsky remains one of the greatest Flat horses ever seen.

Trained by Vincent O’Brien, he completed the Epsom-Irish Derby double before going on to win the St Leger and become the last horse to complete the English Triple Crown.

His victories established the template for future Derby champions and elevated the prestige of the Curragh Classic.

Shergar (1981)

Few Derby winners have captured the public imagination quite like Shergar. His remarkable 10-length victory at Epsom remains one of the most dominant performances in the race’s history.

He followed up comfortably in the Irish Derby and became one of the sport’s most famous horses before his tragic disappearance in 1983.

Generous (1991)

Generous produced one of the great Classic campaigns of the modern era. Following an emphatic Epsom victory, he added the Irish Derby before later winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

His performances earned him champion honours and made him one of the outstanding middle-distance horses of his generation.

Galileo (2001)

Galileo reignited Aidan O’Brien’s dominance of the Classics. After winning at Epsom, he added the Irish Derby before becoming one of the most influential stallions in Thoroughbred history.

His success transformed the Coolmore breeding operation, with numerous future Derby winners tracing directly back to him.

Camelot (2012)

Camelot arrived at the Curragh seeking to continue his Triple Crown bid after winning both the 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby.

Although he would later fall short in the St Leger, his victories at Epsom and the Curragh established him as one of the outstanding Classic colts of the decade.

Australia (2014)

The son of Galileo and Oaks heroine Ouija Board, Australia was widely regarded as one of Aidan O’Brien’s most naturally gifted horses.

He comfortably completed the Derby double before later winning the Juddmonte International.

Auguste Rodin (2023)

Auguste Rodin bounced back from his disappointing run in the 2,000 Guineas to capture both the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby.

His victories highlighted his immense talent and gave Aidan O’Brien another Classic double with one of Ballydoyle’s star performers.

Lambourn – The Most Recent Double Winner

The most recent horse to complete the Epsom-Irish Derby double is Lambourn in 2025.

After making all to win the Derby at Epsom, the son of Australia travelled to the Curragh and once again displayed his stamina and determination to win the Irish Derby for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.

Lambourn became the 20th horse to complete the famous double, following in the footsteps of his sire Australia and grandsire Galileo.

The victory also gave O’Brien his 17th Irish Derby success.

Christmas Day Looking To Become The Next Epsom-Irish Derby Hero

This year’s Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day will now attempt to become the 21st horse to complete the famous double when he lines up at the Curragh.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt produced a memorable display at Epsom to give Ballydoyle another Derby triumph and immediately put himself in contention to join some of the sport’s greatest names.

Should Christmas Day prevail at the Curragh, he would join stable legends Galileo, High Chaparral, Camelot, Australia, Auguste Rodin and Lambourn among the Ballydoyle stars to have won both races.

With Aidan O’Brien responsible for six of the last eight horses to complete the double, history suggests that the Epsom winner will once again be extremely difficult to beat at the Curragh.