By Sean Cronin
Coolmore and Westerberg's 'TDN Rising Star' and G2 Golden Fleece S. victor Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) allayed any and all concerns that his ability may be blunted by the heavy going and powered through the mud at Doncaster to register a record-breaking 11th renewal for Aidan O'Brien in Saturday's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. The trainer admitted a late scratching might be on the cards if conditions were not suitable for the July 2 Naas maiden winner, but was pleasantly surprised by the state of the Town Moor turf once Ryan Moore gave positive feedback following the rider's first ride of the day earlier on the card. O'Brien confirmed participation after inspecting the course with his team. The 9-4 favourite was settled off the searching early pace and raced at the back of a three-strong stands' side group led by stablemate Salt Lake City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who raced fourth overall. While the multiple Group-placed Listed Chesham S. victor Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) was committed approaching the quarter-mile pole, Auguste Rodin had cruised closer from halfway and powered to the front entering the final furlong when that rival veered across the track and relinquished control. Impressive under a measure of Moore rousting thereafter, he lengthened clear of fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who ran on well to finish 3 1/2 lengths adrift at the line. With the stands' side rail preventing Holloway Boy from joining the crowd, the errant 9-2 chance kept on with gusto and was 1 3/4 lengths back in third.
“He's a lovely horse and the lads have always loved him,” the winning trainer revealed. “He's out of Rhododendron and by Deep Impact. It was amazing to send a mare to Deep Impact and it turns out he's from his last crop. He's a very smart horse, but we were worried about the ground. He's got a lovely attitude, he's a fine, big horse and a lovely mover. He has everything you'd look for in a good horse.”
Auguste Rodin is now 5-1 joint-favourite for next year's G1 2000 Guineas and 3-1 ante-post choice for the G1 Derby. Both are on the radar, according to O'Brien. “It depends on what the lads want to do, as always, but I'd imagine he'd have no trouble starting off in a Guineas and then go on after that. He's a very smart horse and he'll be happy going up to a mile-and-a-quarter and even a mile-and-a-half in the Derby. It's very exciting.”
Moore was impressed too and added, “I wouldn't say the race worked out as well as planned, but he's a very good horse. Since the start of the year he always showed he had a lot of quality, but he just hadn't quite done what we thought he might. We always thought there was more there. He does everything with plenty of pace and he's got a lot of quality. He had to win two races today because they were always ahead on the other side and then he had to hold off Frankie [aboard Epictetus]. He had to beat him first and then, when Holloway Boy came over, he had to see him off too. He was comfortable on the ground, but he's such a fluent mover you are never sure if the holding ground is going to suit them.”
Pedigree Notes
Auguste Rodin, one of his sire's 57 elite-level winners, is the lone foal produced by G1 Fillies' Mile, G1 Prix de l'Opera and G1 Lockinge S. victrix Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself a daughter of MG1SW G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Halfway To Heaven, who is out of MGSW G1 July Cup runner-up Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), also produced seven-time Group 1 winner Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and MGSW sire Flying The Flag (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Descendants of Cassandra Go, herself a half-sister to MG1SP sire Verglas (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}), also include G3 Abernant S. and G3 Coral Charge victrix Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and G3 Summer S. winner Theann (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire), the latter being the dam of GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo S. victrix Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Tickled Pink's leading light is the tough-as-teak Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who showed his mettle when annexing this term's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage and G3 Prix de Conde.
Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
VERTEM FUTURITY TROPHY S.-G1, £200,000, Doncaster, 10-22, 2yo, 8fT, 1:44.76, hy.
1–AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Rhododendron (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, 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)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £118,400. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $235,895. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Epictetus (Ire), 129, c, 2, Kingman (GB)–Thistle Bird (GB), by Selkirk. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-George Strawbridge (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £44,780.
3–Holloway Boy (GB), 129, c, 2, Ulysses (Ire)–Sultry (GB), by Pivotal (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (60,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 60,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Nick White & Mrs Elaine Burke; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Karl Burke. £22,380.
Margins: 3HF, 1 3/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 2.25, 3.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Dancing Magic (Ire), Salt Lake City (Ire), Captain Wierzba (GB), King Of Steel, Stormbuster (GB).
He's good, this Auguste Rodin! The son of Deep Impact and Rhododendron looks a real star and lands the Group 1 @vertemam Futurity Trophy at @DoncasterRaces for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien… pic.twitter.com/osJoEMAaoi
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 22, 2022
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