FOR one so accustomed to big-race success, it’s rare that you find a strong element of thrill from Aidan O’Brien in the winner’s enclosure. That’s natural of course. When you keep winning, the dial turns closer to relief and satisfaction rather than elation and ecstasy.

But even the best have new ground to break, and in that case, the dial turns back the other way. We might have saw a rare sparkle in the eyes of the great man when Auguste Rodin powered through the Doncaster turf to win the Vertem Futurity last September.

There might have been other reasons for that as well, like the hard-thought decision to run the colt on the heavy ground and given how special he already is; by Deep Impact, out a Galileo mare in Rhododendron, with both those generational sires now deceased. But perhaps, somewhere in the genius mind of O’Brien, more than an inkling grew that this could be the colt for a Triple Crown.

That mammoth feat, not achieved since Nijinsky in 1970, begins today in the Qipco 2000 Guineas (4.40). Trading as 15/8 shot yesterday evening, he could take a huge step towards the Triple Crown because he is already a 2/1 shot for the Derby.

So according to that assessment, the assumption is today’s test is his toughest; a middle horse taking on the best milers on quick ground.

There is plenty of precedent to work with. You could argue that the last two Guineas-Derby winners got away with a soft renewal at Newmarket, with Sea The Stars seeing off Delegator and Gan Amhras, and Camelot scrambling home from French Fifteen and Hermival.

Those were still exceptional efforts, in defiance of the test provided over the distance, but it’s worth considering today for Auguste Rodin; Is there a star miler in this race?

Of course there could well be and it could somewhat ironically be his stablemate Little Big Bear, last year’s champion juvenile after a sensational win in the six-furlong Phoenix Stakes, or Chaldean, who showed all his pace in a frantically run Dewhurst, or Sakheer, another who was all class in sprinting clear of his rivals in the six-furlong Mill Reef.

Those colts have to prove themselves over a mile but it’s probable at least one of them will, and will improve. Of course Auguste Rodin is already proven over a mile, and that shouldn’t be overlooked today. Maybe the question is whether his rivals can get to him, not whether he can put up with them.

1000

It might end up that Tahiyra is the real superstar this season and this weekend provides the platform for her to showcase just how good she is because her trainer wouldn’t inspire you with confidence speaking about her preparation this week and she has to face the biggest 1000 Guineas field (20) in 16 years.

But her performance to win the Moyglare Stud Stakes on just her second ever start was electric. On just her second start she completely outclassed the subsequent Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf winner in Meditate. She could be so good, and that is the most exciting part.

DERBY trials will come thick and fast over the next two weeks, kicking off in earnest tomorrow at Leopardstown, where the Derby Trial Stakes takes centre stage.

Aidan O’Brien has emerged with a live Epsom contender from the previous two renewals of this; both Bolshoi Ballet and Stone Age were impressive winners and went off 11/8 favourite and 7/2 for the Derby.

However, while O’Brien has three contenders for the race, they all have questions to answer, and if we are to find a creditable Derby contender, it’s likely it will come through his sons Joseph and Donnacha.

Donnahca’s Proud And Regal is clear on ratings, having finished second in the National Stakes and then scored at Group 1 level in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. With a rating of 113, he sets the standard but on his first run of the season, it’s a question of his class making up for a potential fitness deficiency.

“That is what we’d be hoping for,” Donnacha O’Brien took The Irish Field. “He has done plenty of work for his first start back but obviously he will improve for the run.

“If the ground gets worse than it is now (soft), it might turn into more of a fitness test which will count against him but he’s in good form and we’re looking forward to it.”

Huge race

Up And Under has that run under his belt, and may well have the class too because he ran a huge race when only just touched off by White Birch in the Ballysax Stakes over this course and distance last month.

“That run didn’t surprise us really,” said Joseph O’Brien. “We had him in the race because we thought he’d be able to compete at that level and he proved that. He works like a pretty talented horse.

“We’re hoping he has come forward from the run. He’s in good shape and while it looks a competitive race, we’re hopeful of a big run.”