Auguste Rodin is an Irish-bred marvel, a living ode to equine excellence, who carries the legacy of the legendary Deep Impact. At the same time, his dam, Rhododendron, infuses him with the spirit of Galileo. He was named after the famed French sculptor, a name that resonates with the artistry and drama of the legendary sculptor.
In June 2022, the curtains rose on Auguste Rodin’s captivating narrative, where his inaugural performance, though marked by a second-place finish, sparkled with the promise of unfolding epics, heralding a symphony of future victories. He painted his legacy with swift, victorious strokes, clinching top honors in a series of races and etching his name as a leading light among Europe’s juveniles. He dazzled the crowds, securing the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes and the illustrious Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes with flair and finesse.
The 2023 season beckoned with the promise of greatness, yet the tale took an unexpected twist. The 2000 Guineas saw our colt adrift, finishing a baffling 12th at the 2000 Guineas. However, like a maestro reclaiming the melody, Auguste Rodin made a glorious comeback, triumphing at both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby, his luminescence unclouded and determination steadfast.
The suspense escalated at Ascot’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, where the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. He was cloaked in high expectations, and the event was supposed to be his crowning moment. The event started great, and the horse entered the gate with a powerful look. He looked magnificent and did everything great; hence, he was the favorite of the race. Yet again, it turned into a puzzler when he finished last. He suddenly dropped off in power during the race and cannot decipher how Auguste Rodin’s power just disappeared, and his legs softened. Ryan did the right thing and did not take any chances when he felt the power of Auguste Rodin was disappearing, as, for some reason, the power did disappear. It left the racing connoisseurs pondering over this enigmatic hiccup.
However, the chronicle of Auguste Rodin was far from concluding. Like the masterpieces of his namesake, he returned to the limelight with commanding wins at the Irish Champion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. His awe-inspiring resurgence at the Longines Breeders’ Cup was a masterpiece of strategy and skill, a thrilling chase from the rear that culminated in a triumphant surge by three-quarters of a length. A victory that didn’t just salvage his honor; it added a golden layer to his legacy.
With career earnings nearing five million dollars and a record of spectacular victories and heart-wrenching defeats, Auguste Rodin’s journey is narrative-rich with the essence of horse racing’s unpredictable drama. As he prepares to grace the tracks as a 4-year-old in the 2024 season, the racing world watches with bated breath, eager to witness the next chapter in the saga of this equine virtuoso, whose every stride is a brushstroke on the canvas of Thoroughbred greatness.
Horse Profile
- Foaled: January 26, 2020
- Bred: Ireland
- Sex: colt
- Debuted: 2022
- Retirement: N/A
- Death: N/A
- Color and Markings: a bay colt with a white blaze and a white sock on his left hind leg
- Sire: Deep Impact
- Dam: Rhododendron
- Owners: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Westerberg
- Breeder: Coolmore Stud
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Primary/ Regular Jockey: Ryan Moore
Characteristics
- O’Brien believed in Auguste Rodin’s pure talent and pedigree, while his jockey, Moore, had so much confidence in the horse.
- Aidan O’Brien’s perspective on Auguste Rodin isn’t just admiration; it’s a deep-seated belief in the horse’s unparalleled pedigree and inherent talent. He sees Auguste Rodin as a monumental figure in horse racing, a sentiment that isn’t unwarranted. With lineages like Rhododendron and Deep Impact, Auguste Rodin is a living testament to the prowess of his forebears, merging the best of both European and Japanese thoroughbred lines. This isn’t just about genetics; it’s about the embodiment of racing excellence with a horse that showcases the perfect blend of speed, stamina, and spirit. O’Brien’s insight into the horse’s temperament, movement, and confidence suggests a creature not just bred for the track but born to excel on it.
- Switching gears to Ryan Moore, whose narratives are woven with threads of victory and unwavering trust, he presents Auguste Rodin as a marvel of equine intellect, a tangible dream that unites the finest virtues of Japanese and European thoroughbreds. Moore’s conviction in this valiant steed shines brilliantly, reflecting the genius of their trainer, Aidan O’Brien, who has chiseled Auguste Rodin into a celestial icon of the turf. The accolades showered upon this horse by Moore are as majestic as their shared triumphs, spanning from youthful victories at Group 1 races to the revered turf of the Derby, the Irish Derby, and the esteemed Irish Champion Stakes. In a competition as fierce as it was illustrious, O’Brien’s strategic brilliance presented Auguste Rodin in his finest form, making every race with Moore an exquisite celebration of this horse’s courage and splendor, their shared moments now legendary chapters in the rich tapestry of horse racing history.
Major Won Races
- Juvenile Stakes
- Vertem Futurity Trophy (2022)
- Epsom Derby (2023)
- Irish Derby (2023)
- Irish Champion Stakes (2023)
- Breeders’ Cup Turf (2023)
Achievements
- He received a Timeform rating figure of 129.
Rankings
He ranked 5th in earnings in 2023.
Auguste Rodin Connections
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- O’Brien described Ryan as a total professional in every way, genuine and honest. He also said that the jockey is still getting better, sharper and stronger.
- Ryan Moore believes in Auguste Rodin and thinks the horse won because he is incredible and brave enough to follow his directions. He could have made the wrong call, but the horse performed well and won the Breeder’s Cup 2023.
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- He became the first trainer to win the same Breeders’ Cup race seven times when Auguste Rodin won the Derby 2023.
- He ranked 55th in earnings in 2022 and 50th in 2023.
- Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Westerberg
- Tabor owns the majority of O’Brien’s star-studded Ballydoyle string along with John Magnier, Derick Smit, and George Westerberg.
- After Auguste Rodin had utterly lost in King George at Ascot, Tabor confessed it would have been easy to doubt the horse. However, O’Brien fills him with confidence by showing how confident he is with the horse and knowing why the horse ran poorly. Aidan’s faith in the horse’s exceptional brilliance has influenced Tabor to believe in it, adding to his trust in Aidan to produce great horses.
- They ranked 19th in 2023 and 20th in 2022 in earnings as owners.
Racing Career
| Record | Earnings | Fastest Beyer Speed | Highest E Speed Figure |
|---|---|---|---|
10: 7-1-0 | $4,958,538 | 106 | 125 |
| WON RACES | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Finish | Winning Time | Winning Margin | Jockey |
2022 – two-year-old season | ||||||||
July 2, 2022 | 7 furlongs | Maiden | Naas | 1 | 1:31.53 | 2 lengths | Seamie Heffernan | |
September 10, 2022 | 1 mile | Champions Juvenile Stakes | II | Leopardstown | 1 | 1:45.25 | 1 ½ lengths | Ryan Moore |
October 22, 2022 | 1 mile | Vertem Futurity Trophy | I | Doncaster | 1 | 1:44:76 | 3 ½ lengths | Ryan Moore |
2023 – three-year-old season | ||||||||
June 3, 2023 | 1m 4f 6y | Epsom Derby | I | Epsom Downs | 1 | 2:33.88 | ½ lengths | Ryan Moore |
July 2, 2023 | 1 ½ miles | Irish Derby | I | The Curragh | 1 | 2:33.24 | 1 ½ lengths | Ryan Moore |
September 9, 2023 | 1 ¼ miles | Irish Champion Stakes | I | Leopardstown | 1 | 2:02.68 | ½ length | Ryan Moore |
November 4, 2023 | 1 ½ miles | Breeders’ Cup Turf | I | Santa Anita | 1 | 2:24.30 | ¾ length | Ryan Moore |
| LOST RACES | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Placement | Time | Lossing Margin | Jockey |
2022 – two-year-old season | ||||||||
June 1, 2022 | 7 furlongs | Maiden | The Curragh | 2 | 1:29.11 | (2 ¼ lengths) | Ryan Moore | |
2023 – three-year-old season | ||||||||
May 6, 2023 | 1 mile | 2000 Guineas | I | Newmarket | 12 | 1:41.64 | (22 lengths) | Ryan Moore |
July 29, 2023 | 1m 3f 211y | King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes | I | Ascot | 10 | 2:33.95 | eased | Ryan Moore |
Pedigree
SIRE: Deep Impact
- Deep Impact was a Japanese Triple Crown champion and the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2005 and 2006.
- Deep Impact’s sire, Sunday Silence, was also a Kentucky Derby (Gr1) winner with a dam Wishing Well, winning 12 races in 38 starts, including the 1980 Gamely S. for fillies and mares.
- Deep Impact’s great-grandsire, Busted, is also a triple Grade 1 winner, including the Eclipse Stakes and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He was also voted British Horse of the Year in 1967.
DAM: Rhododendron
- Auguste Rodin is the first foal produced by Rhododendron, who won the Fillies’ Mile, Prix de l’Opéra and Lockinge Stakes.
- Rhododendron’s dam Halfway to Heaven was also one of the best European fillies of her generation, winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Nassau Stakes, and Sun Chariot Stakes in 2008, and was a descendant of the Kentucky Oaks winner Native S.
- The 3rd dam of Auguste Rodin, Cassandra Go, won the Kings Stands S. at Royal Ascot, beating the colts. She was second in the July Cup Gr1 at Newmarket.