Auguste Rodin (Ire)

Joseph O'Brien has laid out an adventure in America for juvenile Group 1-winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the target being the GI Manhattan S. in New York on June 8, in a path eventually routing to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. After having his sophomore season disrupted by injury, Al Riffa resurfaced in the G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp and was only beaten by three-quarters of a length in a wild scramble on the wire. O'Brien admits his charge's size is something of a concern, and...

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com. I think my favorite moment of 2023 was Epsom Derby day. The Derby was a great race which included Passenger for Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd., who was a bit too immature for this big event but who has won the G3 Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor since. The winner, Auguste Rodin, doesn't need any introduction now but what an impressive horse. Winning a Group 1 as...

The first edition of the Timeform Awards, honouring the leading Flat horses and performances of the year, will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 20. There are a total of eight awards, with the top three revealed in each category next month. The awards are: Race of the Year Leading First-Season Sire Leading 2YO Leading Male 3YO+ Leading Female 3YO+ Champion of the Rest of the World Champion of Europe Horse of the Year Three of the leading contenders for the awards include Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), undefeated...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victories of Team Europe at the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.   Auguste Rodin Carves BC Masterpiece Already a four-time Group 1 winner including both the Derby and the Irish version, Coolmore partners' Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) delivered another win in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf last Saturday (video) for Aidan O'Brien. The 'TDN Rising Star' had been bred by Coolmore, and...

Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) has topped the rankings at 129 in the ninth edition of the 2023 World's Best Racehorse rankings followed closely by Arc winner Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) and Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who are tied for second with a rating of 128 each. Noteworthy movement in the rankings include dominant G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. victor Big Rock (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), now the co-fourth highest along with Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). The Breeders' Cup had its impact on the...

The nominations for the 33rd Cartier Racing Awards, to be presented Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Dorchester Hotel in London, have been revealed with Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}), Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) named as finalists for Cartier Horse of the Year. Many in contention in other categories made appearances at the Breeders' Cup, including GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf victrix Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for Cartier Older Horse; Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Warm...

ARCADIA, CA - Forty looks good on you, Breeders' Cup. With defending winners Caravel (Mizzen Mast) (Turf Sprint), Cody's Wish (Curlin) (Dirt Mile), Elite Power (Curlin) (Sprint) and Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (F/M Sprint) all back to defend their titles, the two-day Championships--consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million--gets underway for a record 11th time at Santa Anita Friday. Sunny skies and temperatures in the 80s--welcome back to Southern California!--will be on the menu as the weekend kicks off with a 10-race, 'Future Stars Friday'...

ARCADIA, CA - The imposing Bill Mott-trained duo of Just F Y I (Justify) (Juvenile Fillies) and champion Elite Power (Curlin) (Sprint) immediately caught the eye as the curtain was lifted at Santa Anita with a spectacular sunrise beneath the San Gabriel mountains on Breeders' Cup eve. Japanese superstar Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Mile, began her marathon training session, while the horse to catch in the Dirt equivalent 'Rising Star' Zozos (Munnings) left the pony raring to go. John Gosden, represented by potential race...

A new book, The Centenary of Naas Racecourse, written by renowned historian and author Turtle Bunbury, will be released beginning on Nov. 17. This fascinating book tells the story of the farmers and sportsmen who founded the racecourse, and touches on some of the politicians, film stars and royals who have visited over the last 100 years, including Walt Disney, Robert De Niro and Bono. There are countless stable yards and training operations around Naas, which has been at the epicentre of the Irish equestrian world for at least 260...

Playing chess with nature. That's what Jean-Luc Lagardère called it, and the analogy has always resonated with Alberto Figueiredo. How, for instance, do we account for the sheer size of King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who sealed his place among the elite sophomores of Europe with his Group 1 success at Ascot last Saturday? You don't particularly see that bulk in the sire; and, tragically, it wasn't in the dam either. In her case, the disparity proved fatal. "She was a good, medium-sized mare but he was so big...

Arena Racing Company (ARC), Doncaster Racecourse and Qatar Racing have partnered this year to sponsor the G1 Kameko Futurity Trophy, the organisations announced in a joint statement on Friday. The one-mile event, worth £200,000, is the final Group 1 of the British Flat season and is set to be contested on Saturday, Oct. 28. A total of 66 entries remain, including Aidan O'Brien's unbeaten G1 National S. winner Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). "We are delighted to be able to support the 2023 Kameko Futurity Trophy, a race that consistently...

The Coolmore partners' Auguste Rodin (Ire) has joined the top 10 of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings on the back of a victory in the G1 Irish Champion S. and raised his rating to 124. Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) is still on top of the rankings at 129, one pound better than G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. victor Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and G1 International S. hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Also a winner of the G1 Derby and G1 Irish...