Auguste Rodin Set for Irish Derby Appearance

Auguste Rodin was talked about as being a Derby contender ever since he broke his maiden at Naas in 2022 as a two-year-old. He ended his opening year with success at the highest level when he won the Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. 

Ballydoyle Runner Odds-on to Continue O’Brien Domination

Just like it is at Epsom, trainer O’Brien has an excellent record in the Irish Derby at the Curragh. He has won the race 14 times. Auguste Rodin is odds-on at -175 in the 

 to give him his 15th success in the 1m4f contest in 2023.

Unlike some of his rivals in the Irish Derby, the son of Deep Impact has proved his stamina over the distance of 1m4f. His trainer was always confident that he would be a better horse over further than 1m, and that has been the case.

Had Auguste Rodin prevailed in 

 at Newmarket, he would have been trained to run in the St Leger at Doncaster, a race over 1m6f. However, with his Triple Crown bid no longer alive, he is now likely to remain over 1m4f for the rest of the season, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe set to come under serious consideration.

Auguste Rodin could be joined in the Irish Derby by stablemates Cairo, Paddington and Victoria Road. O’Brien has yet to reveal his jockey plans, but it is expected that Ryan Moore will be on board the Epsom hero.

King Of Steel Gets Another Shot at Auguste Rodin

In what was only the third run of his career, King Of Steel finished less than a length behind Auguste Rodin in the Derby. He was over four lengths clear of the third-place horse in what was a big performance from the British horse.

King Of Steel is going to get the chance to take on Auguste Rodin again at the Curragh in the Irish Derby. His connections will be hoping he will improve again, which will give him a big chance of going one place better in the Irish Classic.

Roger Varian’s colt will be vying to become the third British-trained horse in the last three years to win the Irish Derby. Hurricane Lane was 

 for Charlie Appleby, while in 2022, Westover went two places better than his third-place finish in Derby to come out on top.

White Birch and Sprewell were third and fourth respectively in the Derby this year, and they too will be joining Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel at the Curragh. Those two horses have already had a lot of success in Ireland, and they will not have to contend with traveling across the Irish Sea this time for the Classic. 

The 2023 Irish Derby takes place on July 2, and it is the first of several major races on the European horse racing calendar in July in what is a busy month in the sport.