Aidan O'Brien earmarked last year's Epsom Derby hero Auguste Rodin may well begin his exciting and somewhat unexpected four-year-old campaign in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.

Many would have expected the Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Deep Impact to embark on a career at stud following a stellar three-year-old season, which included victories in the Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Turf, but connections made a bold and sporting decision to keep him in training for another year.

Boldly campaigned in his three-year-old season, it would appear similar race planning awaits the five-time Group 1 winner. "I suppose with Auguste Rodin this year we are going to start off probably in Dubai (March 30), then he might come back to the Curragh for the Tattersalls (Gold Cup), then he could go to Ascot for the Prince of Wales's," said O'Brien, who was speaking on a media call regarding the 2023 European Classifications, which saw his City Of Troy land top honours.

Although kept to turf throughout his outstanding ten-race career thus far, the master of Ballydoyle went on to suggest a tilt at some of the world's biggest races on dirt was certainly a distinct possibility.

He added: "Then after that it is possible, we could have a look at dirt and see what happens because when we cantered him on the dirt at the Breeders' Cup, he was loving it."