Trainer Aidan O’Brien has told the horse racing press that his Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin, who was last seen running poorly in the King George, has been working ‘brilliant’ ahead of his next target – the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 9th.
Can Auguste Rodin Bounce Back Again?
We last saw Auguste Rodin running last of 10 in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot at the end of July – being eased down by jockey Ryan Moore to come home in his own time after clearly not looking himself during the first half of the race.
Therefore, this year’s Epsom and Irish Derby winner will be looking to bounce back, but the good news for his supporters is that he’s done just that already this season.
The Deep Impact colt was sent off favourite for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket back in May, but only managed 12th (of 14), however, left that run behind just a month later when winning the 2023 Epsom Derby.
He’s since added the Irish Derby to his CV, but the softer ground in a tough race at Ascot in the King George was partly to blame for his bad show there.
So, can he bounce back for a second time this term in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 9th?
His trainer Aidan O’Brien seems to think so and has revealed that his two-time Derby winner has been working “brilliant” since and because he had no sort of race at Ascot this could actually be a blessing in disguise that he didn’t get into a dogfight with some very good horses.
The best UK and Irish betting sites have put in Auguste Rodin in @ 9/2 to return to winning ways in the Irish Champion Stakes, where he could take on Derby runner-up King Of Steel again.
O’Brien told the Racing Post
“It was a very tough race on soft ground in the King George. We don’t know what happened to Auguste Rodin, but he was drawn very wide and trapped very wide. He came off the bridle a lot earlier than Ryan [Moore] would have thought.
“Ryan’s first impulse was to protect the horse and he was very surprised by what happened. Before he had to ask him too much, he pulled him up.
“It was probably a blessing in disguise as he was probably going to have a very tough race no matter what happened. That was probably one of the toughest King Georges run in a long, long time and for a baby three-year-old it might be lucky that he didn’t get into a brawl.”
Auguste Rodin Won’t Run at Leopardstown If The Ground Is Testing
However, O’Brien has also said that if the ground conditions came up very soft or testing that his Derby winner wouldn’t run at Leopardstown.
“He came home from Ascot well and has been fine since. If it came up soft, we wouldn’t run him. His work has been brilliant, we are very happy with everything he has been doing. He’s fresh and doing everything really good.”
Last Year’s Winner Luxembourg Could Also Head For The Irish Champion Stakes
O’Brien could also run last year’s Irish Champion Stakes winner Luxembourg in the race after his fair 4th in the King George. The drop back to 1m2f should be more up his street and in contrast to his stablemate Auguste Rodin won’t mind it if it’s soft – having won this pot with give underfoot 12 months ago (watch below).
Luxembourg has been put in @ 10/1 to win the Irish Champion Stakes and become the first back-to-back winner since Magical, who won the race in 2019 and 2020.
Al Riffa and King Of Steel Other Possibles For Leopardstown Group One
Epsom Derby runner-up and King Edward VII Stakes winner King Of Steel could also head to Leopardstown, while the Joseph O’Brien-trained Al Riffa is another possible.
But there will be no Mostahdaf, who beat Paddington in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York recently – with connections saying the race would come too soon.
When Is The 2023 Irish Champion Stakes?
🕙Time: 3:20pm
📅Date: Saturday 9th September 2023
🏇Racecourse: Leopardstown (1m 2f)
📺 TV: Sky Sports Racing / ITV
Aidan O’Brien Has Won Irish Champion Stakes 11 Times
No trainer has won the Irish Champion Stakes more times than Aidan O’Brien, with 11 successes under his belt in the big Leopardstown Group One race.
He’s also won the last four renewals with Magical (twice), St Mark’s Basilica and 12 months ago with Luxembourg.
O’Brien’s first Irish Champion Stakes win came back in 2000 with Giant’s Causeway.
Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Champion Stakes Wins
- 2000 Giant’s Causeway (2000)
- 2003 High Chaparral
- 2005 Oratorio
- 2006 Dylan Thomas
- 2007 Dylan Thomas
- 2010 Cape Blanco
- 2011 So You Think
- 2019 Magical
- 2020 Magical
- 2021 St Mark’s Basilica
- 2022 Luxembourg
Auguste Rodin Career In Numbers and Profile
- Age: 3
- Career Runs: 8
- Wins: 5
- Sent Off As Favourite: 7 from 8
- Total Career Winnings: £1,719,650
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Group One Wins: 3 (Vertum Futurity Trophy, Epsom Derby, Irish Derby)
- Last Run: 10th King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (29th July 2023)
Irish Champion Stakes Betting Odds
See below the latest odds for the 2023 Irish Champion Stakes from BetUK.
- King Of Steel 3/1
- Auguste Rodin 3/1
- Al Riffa 5/1
- Onesto 6/1
- Bay Bridge 10/1
- Luxembourg 10/1
- Nashwa 12/1Note: Odds are subject to change and others on request
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WATCH: Luxembourg Winning The 2022 Irish Champion Stakes
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