Auguste Rodin (horse)

Auguste Rodin
Auguste Rodin being led in the paddock before the 2023 Breeders Cup Turf
SireDeep Impact
GrandsireSunday Silence
DamRhododendron
DamsireGalileo
SexColt
Foaled26 January 2020[1]
CountryIreland
ColourBay
BreederCoolmore Stud
OwnerMichael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Westerberg
TrainerAidan O'Brien
Record16: 8 - 3 - 0
EarningsUS$$5,825,350[2]
Major wins
Juvenile Stakes (2022)
Vertem Futurity Trophy (2022)
Epsom Derby (2023)
Irish Derby (2023)
Irish Champion Stakes (2023
Breeders' Cup Turf (2023)
Prince of Wales's Stakes (2024)
Timeform rating: 129
Last updated on 24 November 2024

Auguste Rodin (foaled 26 January 2020) is a multiple-Group 1 winning Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2022 he won three of his four races, including the Vertem Futurity Trophy. In the following year he won the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf. As a four-year-old he continued his brilliant form winning the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Background

Auguste Rodin is a bay colt, with a white blaze and a white sock on his left hind leg, bred in Ireland by the Coolmore Stud. He raced in the ownership of the Coolmore partners Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier and Derrick Smith in association with Georg von Opel's Westerberg organization. The colt was sent into training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle.

He is from the thirteenth crop of foals sired by Japanese Triple Crown champion Deep Impact, who was the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2005 and 2006.[3] Auguste Rodin is the first foal produced by Rhododendron, whose wins included the Fillies' Mile, Prix de l'Opéra and Lockinge Stakes. Rhododendron's dam Halfway to Heaven won the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Nassau Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes in 2008.[4] and was a descendant of the Kentucky Oaks winner Native S.[5]

Racing career

2022: two-year-old season

Auguste Rodin began his track career in a seven-furlong maiden race at the Curragh on 1 June when he started the 4/6 favourite but finished second to Crypto Force, beaten two and a half lengths. A month later the colt started odds-on favourite for a similar event at Naas Racecourse. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan he won "comfortably" by two lengths from Shadowed.[6] The colt was then stepped up in class for the Group 2 Juvenile Stakes over one mile on soft ground at Leopardstown Racecourse on 10 September when he was ridden by Ryan Moore and started 11/10 favourite in a six-runner field. After tracking the leaders he took the lead a furlong out and despite hanging to the right in the closing stages he stayed on well to win by one and a half lengths from Caroline Street.[7] After the race Aidan O'Brien commented "He's always showed a lot and has a beautiful physique, a lovely nature... He was a little idle when he got to the front, but we're delighted with him. He's always gone through his work very impressively. He has plenty of class and quality, and probably will sharpen up a lot from today. We thought he could be the type of horse to do both the Guineas and the Derby".[8]

For his final run of the season Auguste Rodin was sent to England to contest the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy winning "readily" by three and a half lengths.[9]

In the official two-year-old ratings for 2022, Auguste Rodin was rated the equal fourth-best juvenile of the season in Europe, behind Little Big Bear, Blackbeard and Chaldean.[10]

2023: three-year-old season

In the early part of 2023 there was speculation that Auguste Rodin would become the first horse since Nijinsky to complete the Triple Crown by winning the 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger.[11]

On 6 May Auguste Rodin began his second season in the 2000 Guineas, eventually coming in twelfth, more than twenty lengths behind the winner Chaldean.[12]

The 244th running of the Derby took place over one and a half miles on good to firm ground at Epsom Racecourse on 3 June and Auguste Rodin started the 9/2 second favourite behind the Chester Vase winner Arrest. The other twelve contenders included Military Order (Lingfield Derby Trial), The Foxes (Dante Stakes), White Birch (Ballysax Stakes), Sprewell (Derby Trial Stakes), San Antonio (Dee Stakes) and Dubai Mile (Criterium de Saint-Cloud). Ridden by Moore, Auguste Rodin caught the leader 100 yards from the finish and won by three quarters of a length.[13]

Auguste Rodin made his next start in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on 29 July. After running in midfield for most of the race, he dropped out into the back of the field and was eased home last as the 9/4 favorite, beaten by more than 100 lengths by winner Hukum.[14] [15]

Statistics

Date Distance Race Grade/
Group 		Track Odds Field Finish Winning
Time 		Winning
(Losing)
Margin 		Jockey Ref
2022 – two-year-old season
1 Jun 2022 7 furlongs Maiden The Curragh 4/6* 9 2 1:29.11 (2+1⁄4 lengths) Ryan Moore [16]
2 Jul 2022 7 furlongs Maiden Naas 30/100* 13 1 1:31.53 2 lengths Seamie Heffernan [17]
10 Sep 2022 1 mile Champions Juvenile Stakes II Leopardstown 11/10* 5 1 1:45.25 1+1⁄2 lengths Ryan Moore [18]
22 Oct 2022 1 mile Vertem Futurity Trophy I Doncaster 9/4* 8 1 1:44:76 3+1⁄2 lengths Ryan Moore [19]
2023 – three-year-old season
6 May 2023 1 mile 2000 Guineas I Newmarket 13/8* 14 12 1:41.64 (22 lengths) Ryan Moore [20]
3 Jun 2023 1m 4f 6y Epsom Derby I Epsom Downs 9/2 14 1 2:33.88 1⁄2 length Ryan Moore [21]
2 Jul 2023 1+1⁄2 miles Irish Derby I The Curragh 4/11* 9 1 2:33.24 1+1⁄2 lengths Ryan Moore [22]
29 Jul 2023 1m 3f 211y King George VI and
Queen Elizabeth Stakes 		I Ascot 9/4* 10 10 2:33.95 eased Ryan Moore [23]
9 Sep 2023 1+1⁄4 miles Irish Champion Stakes I Leopardstown 11/4* 8 1 2:02.68 1⁄2 length Ryan Moore [24]
4 Nov 2023 1+1⁄2 miles Breeders' Cup Turf I Santa Anita 2.50* 11 1 2:24.30 3⁄4 length Ryan Moore [25]
2024 – four-year-old season
30 Mar 2024 2410 metres[a] Dubai Sheema Classic I Meydan (UAE) N/A[b] 12 12 2:26.72 (21+3⁄4 lengths) Ryan Moore [26]
26 May 2024 1 mile 2+1⁄2 furlongs Tattersalls Gold Cup I The Curragh 11/10* 8 2 2:11.61 (3 lengths) Ryan Moore [27]
19 Jun 2024 1m 1f 212y Prince of Wales's Stakes I Royal Ascot 13/8* 10 1 2:03.12 3⁄4 length Ryan Moore [28]
27 July 2024 1m 3f 211y King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes I Ascot 7/4* 9 5 2:27.43 (11+1⁄2 lengths) Ryan Moore [29]

Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Auguste Rodin was the post-time favorite.

  1. ^ Distance for the event was approximately 1+1⁄2 miles
  2. ^ Auguste Rodin final odds with British Bookmakers were 11/8 favourite since gambling is prohibited in the United Arab Emirates

Pedigree

Pedigree of Auguste Rodin (IRE), bay colt 2020[1]
Sire
Deep Impact (JPN)
2002 		Sunday Silence (USA)
1986 		Halo Hail to Reason
Cosmah
Wishing Well Understanding
Mountain Flower
Wind in Her Hair (IRE)
1991 		Alzao (USA) Lyphard
Lady Rebecca (GB)
Burghclere (GB) Busted
Highclere
Dam
Rhododendron (IRE)
2009 		Galileo (IRE)
1998 		Sadler's Wells (USA) Northern Dancer (CAN)
Fairy Bridge
Urban Sea (USA) Miswaki
Allegretta (GB)
Halfway to Heaven (IRE)
2005 		Pivotal (GB) Polar Falcon (USA)
Fearless Revival
Cassandra Go Indian Ridge
Rahaam (USA) (Family: 3-d)[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Auguste Rodin pedigree". Equineline.
  2. ^ "Profile of Auguste Rodin". Equibase. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Deep Impact - Stud Record". Racing Post.
  4. ^ "Cassandra Go race record". Racing Post. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Brown Bess – Family 3-d". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden result". Racing Post. 2 July 2022.
  7. ^ "KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes result". Racing Post. 10 September 2022.
  8. ^ Mark Boylan (10 September 2022). "'He's always showed a lot' - Auguste Rodin heads Derby market after Group 2 win". Racing Post.
  9. ^ "Vertem Futurity Trophy result". Racing Post. 22 October 2022.
  10. ^ "2022 European 2yo Classification" (PDF). British Horseracing Authority. 17 January 2023.
  11. ^ "O'Brien's leading classic hope Auguste Rodin 16-1 for Triple Crown glory". The Irish Times. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  12. ^ "2000 Guineas result". Racing Post. 6 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Epsom Derby result". Racing Post. 3 June 2023.
  14. ^ "King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes result". Sky Sports. 27 July 2023.
  15. ^ Wood, Greg (27 July 2023). "Hukum on top in final heave of King George to keep Westover at bay". Retrieved 27 July 2023 – via The Guardian.
  16. ^ "Ryans Cleaning Waste And Recycling Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden". 1 June 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden". 2 July 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  18. ^ "KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (Group 2)". Racing Post. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)". Racing Post. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Colts)". Racing Post. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Betfred Derby (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (No Geldings)". Racing Post. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  22. ^ "Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) (No Geldings)". Racing Post. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  23. ^ "King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)". Racing Post. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)". Racing Post. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Longines Breeders' Cup Turf Grade 1 – (Race 8)". Equibase. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1)". Racing Post. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1)". Racing Post. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1)". Racing Post. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  29. ^ "2024 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Group 1)". Racing Post. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.