Auguste Rodin will attempt a rare feat at The Curragh on Sunday when the impeccably bred colt bids to add the Group One Irish Derby (2,400m) to last month’s Group One Epsom Derby (2,400m) triumph.
The son of Deep Impact – Japan’s greatest-ever sire – was brilliant at two, but left unanswered questions when a remote 12th of 14 in the Group One 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) at Newmarket in May, a fiasco subsequently banished from memory when he surged past outsider King Of Steel, who had briefly looked like stealing the iconic Epsom Classic.
King Of Steel went on to dominate the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes (2,392m), while Epsom sixth Waipiro, who shortly leaves for Hong Kong to be targeted towards next March’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), further bolstered Auguste Rodin’s Derby exploits when shooting clear of his rivals in the Group Three Hampton Court Stakes (1,993m).
“We were feeling our way with Auguste Rodin at Epsom as it was his first run over a mile and a half, but that went very well, as has everything since. He’s straightforward and a beautiful moving horse, with good ground always what we felt would be ideal,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.
????Epsom Derby 2023 (G1)
2.420 m – 1.561.950 GBP – for 3yo colts
????????EpsomAuguste Rodin (IRE)
(3C Deep Impact – Rhododendron , by Galileo)
J : Ryan Moore
T:A.P. O’Brien
O: M Tabor & D Smith & Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg
B : @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/Okebru55DN— ???????????????????????????????????????????? (@WorldRacing1) June 3, 2023
O’Brien trains four of the other eight Irish Derby contenders, but the majority of observers believe the main threats come from the dynamic grey, White Birch, and Sprewell. They finished third and fourth, respectively, at Epsom, with neither having ideal trips around its famously challenging contours.
“His chance is obvious, as his price suggests, but there are few certainties in racing,” jockey Ryan Moore said of Auguste Rodin.
“I’m sure the connections of the Epsom third and fourth, White Birch and Sprewell, will fancy their chances of at least getting closer to us on this more conventional track. And who’s to say they won’t. Different day, different course, different result, maybe.
“But everyone saw the real Auguste Rodin in the Derby, stepped up to a trip more in keeping with his superb pedigree, and everyone has seen how strong the form is with King Of Steel and Waipiro coming out and winning at Ascot. If he runs up to the level of his form at Epsom, something is going to have improve markedly to beat him.”
The Irish Derby makes its World Pool debut on Sunday, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club is simulcasting eight races from The Curragh, as well as the Group One Deutsches Derby (2,400m) from Hamburg.
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