Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1)

WIN pretty, win ugly, just win. It mightn’t have been the sort of glamorous performance that saw him excel at Epsom but Auguste Rodin rolled his sleeves and churned out a gritty Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby victory to join an illustrious group of dual classic winners in the Curragh feature.

The record books will show the fact he became the 19th horse in history to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double, but we didn’t see the best of the immaculately-bred son of Deep Impact. In truth, a much more comprehensive success was expected as 4/11 favourite.

Everything appeared to be going pretty smoothly for O’Brien’s five-strong team until front-running Dee Stakes winner San Antonio sadly went wrong roughly four furlongs from home, giving Wayne Lordan a nasty fall in front of the oncoming pack. The leading rider was reportedly concussed but was talking and moving all limbs when taken to Tallaght Hospital for further assessment on the day.

The incident briefly left Adelaide River, ridden by Seamie Heffernan, to himself on the lead until Auguste Rodin took closer order approaching the turn for him. Last season’s Vertem Futurity Trophy winner didn’t exactly put the race to bed straight away and was kept company by 33/1 chance Adelaide River until the final furlong, when the hot favourite eventually shrugged off his main challenger to win by a length and a quarter.

O’Brien was notching his record-extending 15th Irish Derby win and saddled the first four home with his quartet of finishers. He has now swept the first three placings eight times in this race and the first four twice.

For Ryan Moore, it meant a first win in the Curragh classic after 10 previous attempts, including aboard seven favourites and two Derby winners from Epsom.

“It probably didn’t go right for Auguste Rodin in any part of the way,” said O’Brien, who brought up a truly remarkable 100th European classic win.

Difficult wind

“The lads in front were going a gear too slow and there was such a wind, they probably didn’t know if they were coming or going. They were getting turned sideways going down the back and when they turned in the wind was gone.

“Ryan felt he was in two gears too low all the way but he was where he was. Then when the unfortunate incident happened with San Antonio and Wayne coming down the hill, Ryan was just starting to let him go and he had to take him back again.

“He felt the horse was on autopilot the whole way up the straight and never really clicked in at all because he didn’t know what had happened. We did think Adelaide River and San Antonio had improved a lot from the Derby at Epsom - neither had acted on the track at Epsom.

“While Auguste Rodin looked workmanlike, Ryan was very adamant that there’s so much more in there. He wasn’t even blowing afterwards.”

On what could be next for the top-priced 7/1 favourite for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, O’Brien said: “The lads will decide themselves but there’s a strong chance he could go to the King George and then have a little rest before coming back to the Irish Champion Stakes, or he could go for the Juddmonte International. His next two runs are really going to be something to look forward to, I think.

Paris thoughts

“The Arc could also be an option but I don’t think you’d like to give him too hard a time on heavy ground, which you could get there. If the ground was lovely it could be something to look forward to. I think he’s too beautiful a mover and too important a horse to expose him to too much hardship. It’s really to have his next couple of runs and look after him.”

Auguste Rodin is currently no bigger than 5/2 at the head of the market for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on July 29th.

O’Brien added: “He’s the most incredible horse. He has a great physique and uses himself so well. He has everything.He’s just incredibly exciting. He brings the two continents together.

“He’s by the greatest sire of all time in Japan, Deep Impact, and his dam is by Galileo, the greatest sire we’ve ever seen in this part of the world, as well as the fact she was a top mare herself. How important he’s going to be for the breed is incalculable, really.”

San Antonio’s fatal injury effectively knocked 33/1 shot Proud And Regal out of the race, as well as doing no favours to Epsom third and fourth, White Birch and Sprewell. That trio ended up being the final runners to complete.

Beaten reaction

Sprewell’s trainer Jessica Harrington said: “He’s okay. He just got interfered with at the wrong time and probably wasn’t quite letting himself down on the ground. I was worried and shut my eyes for a second when it happened because I thought he was about to fall. He’ll live to fight another day.”

On the ill-fated San Antonio, O’Brien added: “It’s terrible. Thankfully Wayne is okay - that’s what matters most - but we’re so sorry for San Antonio and all the lads who rode him or did anything with him along the way.”

The frame was filled by third-placed Covent Garden (80/1), ridden by Declan McDonogh, and fourth-placed Peking Opera (66/1), ridden by Tom Marquand.