By Tom Frary
Unlucky on debut when second at The Curragh at the start of last month, Ballydoyle's Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) put that experience behind him to earn TDN Rising Star status at Naas on Saturday. Sent off the 30-100 favourite for the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, the bay was swiftly into stride to race on the front end throughout the early stages. Shaken up by Seamus Heffernan to gain an outright advantage passing the two pole, he ran green in the clear but was always in his comfort zone en route to a two-length verdict over Shadowed (Ire) (Caravaggio), with Jim Bolger's highly-promising Young Ireland (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) a head away in third. “He had a lovely first run and he was an easy winner,” Heffernan said. “He gives me the feel of a proper horse and hopefully he keeps getting stronger. He won easy and it was nice to do the steering.”
Auguste Rodin is so far the sole foal out of the stable's high-class G1 Fillies' Mile, G1 Prix de l'Opera and G1 Lockinge S. heroine Rhododendron, who was also successful in the G2 Debutante S. and finished runner-up in the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Her dam Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was the winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Sun Chariot S. and G1 Nassau S., also produced one of this yard's best females in the seven-time group 1 winner Magical (Ire) by Galileo and her group 3-winning sire Flying The Flag (Ire). Alongside Halfway To Heaven, the G2 King's Stand S.-winning third dam Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who is a half-sister to Verglas (Ire) was also responsible for Galileo's GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo Drive S. winner Photo Call (Ire).
6th-Naas, €16,000, Mdn, 7-2, 2yo, 7fT, 1:31.53, y/s.
AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE), c, 2, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Rhododendron (Ire) (Ch. Older Mare-Eng at 7-9 1/2f, Ch. 2yo Filly-Ire, Ch. Older Mare-Ire at 7-9 1/2f, Ch. Older Mare-Eur at 7-9 1/2f, G1SW-Fr, MG1SW-Eng, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-US, $1,786,763), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $13,375. O-M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact) is out of Group 1 winner Rhododendron and he's an exciting colt, getting off the mark for @Ballydoyle at @NaasRacecourse #ディープインパクト #競馬 pic.twitter.com/DfhWvh9xO1
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 2, 2022
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