Auguste Rodin (Ire)

After the Mar. 7 scratching stage, 83 horses remain signed on for the 2023 G1 Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 3. Worth £1.5 million, the 1 1/2-mile contest is the richest race in Britain. Of the 83, 45 are trained in Ireland and of that number, 29 are trained by Ballydoyle supremo Aidan O'Brien for various Coolmore partnerships. Top of the heap are Deep Impact (Jpn)'s G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy hero Auguste Rodin (Jpn) and the late Shadai kingpin's son's Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). The last-named...

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...

Heavy rain hit Doncaster's Town Moor track on Thursday and refused to relent during the following afternoon, so the Saturday feature G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy is certain to be a thorough examination for its protagonists. It will ask a question of Ballydoyle's latest hot favourite for the juvenile endgame, the TDN Rising Star Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who would have preferred the ground was in the other direction and now has to prove his mental resolve as well as his physical prowess. While the son of the high-class...

Aidan O'Brien has trimmed his overnight entry of eight down to two for Saturday's £200,000 G1 Vertem Futurity at Doncaster, Europe's final juvenile Group 1 contest of the season. TDN Rising Star and G2 Golden Fleece S. victor Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is the mount of Ryan Moore and has been allocated stall six for the one-mile test. He is set to be joined by Navan maiden winner Salt Lake City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will depart from the eight box. The home defence is spearheaded by John...

The vibes were strong about Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) ahead of Saturday's G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. at Leopardstown and they proved correct as the son of Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) got his stable off to a strong start to Irish Champions Weekend. Fine-tuned since breaking his maiden over seven furlongs at Naas July 2, the 11-10 favourite was settled by Ryan Moore behind the leading pair early which included his stablemate and fellow TDN Rising Star Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Sent...

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...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a son of Group 1 winner Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 4.18 Naas, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, 7fT AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Ballydoyle's exciting son of the triple Group 1 winner Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was a possibly unlucky runner-up at the Curragh at the...

2.25 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, c/g, 10fT DOLAYLI (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}) is the latest progeny of the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic heroine Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) to hit the track, with Christophe Soumillon on The Aga Khan's half-brother to last year's G3 Prix Quincey winner Dilawar (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Francis-Henri Graffard also saddles Edzel (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), a son of the G3 Give Thanks S. scorer Edelmira (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). 3.35 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, f, 10fT ZARKA (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a standout on the day as the 10th...