Trainer Aidan O’Brien recorded a remarkable ninth Epsom Derby success this afternoon as Auguste Rodin (9/2) bounced back from his no-show at Newmarket.
Having been all the rage heading into Newmarket's 2000 Guineas last month the son of Deep Impact was bitterly disappointing when beating just two home.
All fourteen runners got away from the stall with the minimum of fuss and the field began to sort itself out when Frankie Dettori angled his mount, Arrest, across to the far side rail. The Aidan O'Brien-trained pair Adelaide River and San Antonio made their intentions clear as they cut out the majority of the early pace.
Fancied horses, Miltary Order, Arrest and Passenger all looked content with their position as they tracked the leading Ballydoyle pair while Charlie Johnston's Dubai Mile was situated towards the inside rail. King Of Steel, Sprewell, and Auguste Rodin were the next wave of runners with White Birch held up for his customary late run.
The pace began to quicken as the field rounded Tattenham Corner and Ryan Moore began to improve his position. There was trouble on the inside for Jessie Harrington's Sprewell but no such issues for Ryan Moore and Auguste Rodin who always looked likely to get plain sailing down the outside of the Epsom straight.
Supporters of the well-fancied 9/2 shot would have had a few anxious moments as the once-raced maiden, King Of Steel (66/1), bounded clear entering the final three-furlongs in his attempt to go one better than Mojo Star's second-place finish for the same connections in this race last season. However, the move was swiftly covered by Ryan Moore and the striking Deep Impact Colt began the eat up the ground entering the final furlong. The winning margin was half a length with White Birch staying on from well off the pace to finish a further four-and-three-quarter lengths back in third. The Jessie Harrington-trained Sprewell finished back in fourth with Dante winner The Foxes running more than credibly in fifth.
Charlie Appleby's Lingfield Derby Trail winner Military Order disappointed trailing in last of the fourteen runners while Frankie Dettori was unable to replicate yesterday's Epsom Oaks success with the Juddmonte-owned Arrest only capable of eleventh spot.
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Auguste Rodin, told ITV Racing: "It's great credit to everybody. Firstly, for John (Magnier) to send a great mare to Japan and everyone is involved, there's so many people who make this happen. He's a total homebred horse and it's all credit to them to make this thing happen every day.
"He came with a massive reputation as a beautiful horse but he kept stepping up to all the markers the whole way, which is very unusual. He's totally unique, he's out of one of the greatest Galileo mares and by the greatest stallion ever in Japan, he's totally unique.
"Ryan said it probably didn't suit him and he'd prefer a lot stronger pace but he said he had to quicken twice. He's so exciting for us and I feel so grateful. I'm so delighted for his owners, it's a great pleasure for us to have anything to do with him.
