Bred to be something truly exceptional, Coolmore and partners have had a rollercoaster ride with Deep Impact colt Auguste Rodin, who produced his very best to win the US$4million Group I Breeders’ Cup Turf (1 ½ m) at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Auguste Rodin won the Group I Doncaster Futurity Trophy at two and was expected to take all before him this year in his classic season and to a large extent he has.
A mystifyingly bad run in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas at his first run of the year was quickly swept aside when he followed up with wins in both the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby before he dropped out to finish last as favourite in the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Once again, Auguste Rodin rebounded as though nothing happened to win the Group I Irish Champion Stakes to gain the green light for his trip to the Breeders Cup.
Ryan Moore has ridden Auguste Rodin in every start he’s had bar one and knows the colt better than anyone. He gave him a brilliant ride overcoming difficulty to settle back in the field before finding a saloon passage up the inside rail on turning for home. The three year-old powered through the gap and went on to win by three-quarters of a length over US contender Up to the Mark with Japanese raider Shahryar, another son of Deep Impact, in third place.
“I got squeezed out and horses were getting in each other’s way. I didn’t like where I was, but once he got there he did it very easily. Considering how the race went against him in the early stages, it was a really big performance,” Ryan Moore said.
“Going up the rail was Plan F, my horse was getting a bad trip and the reason he won is because he’s so good.
“He’s now won two Derbys, an Irish Champion and come here and beaten proper horses. He had things go against him today, but he overcame them. He’s shown himself to be a good Derby winner and a real top-drawer horse.”
Aidan O’Brien was full of praise for Ryan Moore and Auguste Rodin, who has the overall record of seven wins and a second from 10 starts and five of those wins are in G1 races.
“The race wasn’t working out for us like we hoped, but Ryan knew at the top of the bend where he wanted to go,” said O’Brien.
“You can see the pace that he has, he was able to quicken when he wanted him to and it was a brilliant ride. He doesn’t do much when he gets there and that was a little worry because Ryan sent him down the inside and he ended up getting there early.
“He’s a super horse and during the week the way he was cantering on the dirt I was wondering have we done the right thing, should we have had him in the other race (Breeders’ Cup Classic). He was cruising on the dirt, most other horses don’t handle it when they are not used to it really, but he was incredible really.
“We’ve always felt he has a beautiful action and that he’s a kind of dream horse.
“His dam (Rhododendron) was one of the best Galileo mares ever, and he’s the absolute double of his grandsire (Sunday Silence). His pedigree brings the best of Japan and Europe together.”
Bred by the Coolmore partners, he is the first winner for Galileo’s Champion 2YO Filly and Older Female Miler Filly and triple Group I winner Rhododendron. A full sister to seven time Group I winner Magical from Group I winning Pivotal mare Halfway to Heaven, this is an exceptional family that has also produced Group I winners Photo Call and Victoria Road, who is by Deep Impact stallion Saxon Warrior.
Auguste Rodin is the third G1 winner among seven stakes-winners bred by Deep Impact from daughters of Galileo. The nick has produced 29 winners from 41 runners, so 70% winner to runner and 17% SW to runner.
The big question now is will Auguste Rodin race on next year as a four year old?
Pedigree and physique would suggest he’s only going to get better and he’s finished his season with a career best performance, so here’s hoping we see more of Auguste Rodin on the racetrack in 2024.
Footnote: The only son of Deep Impact standing this season in Australia is triple G1 winner Fierce Impact (Jpn) at Leneva Park, read more about him here.
