Auguste Rodin and Ryan Moore beating Adelaide River © Photo Healy Racing
Auguste Rodin cemented his place in the history books as he gave Aidan O'Brien his 100th European Classic when grinding out victory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in front of 10,897 racegoers at the Curragh.
The Epsom winner went to post a 4/11 shot as he attempted to complete the Derby double and it proved plain sailing for the regally-bred son of Deep Impact.
Unfortunately the race was marred by a fatal injury to San Antonio half a mile from home as he unseated Wayne Lordan. Proud And Regal was hampered by the incident while Sprewell and White Birch also suffered some interference from the stricken runner.
Auguste Rodin raced on the inner throughout before Moore asked his mount to pick up front-runner Adelaide River passing the two pole.
The long-time leader stuck to his guns well when passed but couldn't live with the hotpot in the closing stages as he got on top to record a length-and-a-half success.
It was another Ballydoyle clean sweep in the race with Adelaide River claiming the runner-up spot and Covent Garden finished two-and-a-quarter lengths back in third. Peking Opera also finished fourth for O'Brien.
Auguste Rodin became the 19th horse to complete the Epsom and Curragh Derby double and the first since Harzand in 2016.
O’Brien said afterwards:- “It was hard to judge the pace with the wind and Ryan said it was all happening a bit too slow for him. He would be much better in a faster run race.
“We wanted a strong, even pace and he was just in second gear. He never got into third gear at all. When he got to the front he was all starry eyed.
“We knew the second horse would handle this course much better than Epsom and it wasn’t a surprise that he ran much better.
“This horse is real classic blood. He can cover that mile and a half in a strong fast pace, move well and do everything right. The Curragh is very fair and very straight forward."
Regarding future plans the Ballydoyle maestro added:-
“We will do what we usually do which is wait about seven days and we will talk with the lads and see what they want to do.”
Owner Michael Tabor paid tribute to Aidan O'Brien and his family:- “The whole (O’Brien) family and their work ethic is tremendous, it doesn’t happen just by luck.
“The work that he puts in every day, and I mean every day, and he loves what he does. He gets up in the morning and he enjoys his work, you have to as life is too short.
“I don’t think you saw the real Auguste Rodin but it’s always a great thrill to win the Irish Derby.”
Moore told RTE:- “I've been looking forward to riding this horse since Epsom and hoping to tick this race off.
“It's a hard one, because poor Wayne there — I just hope he's okay.
“It didn't suit this horse because it was a messy race. I ended up getting to the front early after us not going quick. He was just waiting when he was in front then.
“He's a lovely horse and I'm very lucky too. I'm grateful to win this race, it's just a shame the way it turned out there.
“He's a lovely horse and that's what it's about really, it's about the horses. He's a beautiful horse.
On the injury to San Antonio he added:- “I took a little bit of a pull when that happened and it broke his rhythm. Then I've had to ask him to go there and then he shut down a bit, I'd say that's probably what happened. It was an unusual race, stop-start.
“Aidan always says that it is the team that we have around us. These are the best horses and they are trained perfectly in a fantastic style.
“As Aidan says there are a lot of people involved and I'm just lucky to be one of them.”
Paddy Power and Betfair both shortened Auguste Rodin into 9/4 favourite (from 11/4) for the King George and he is unchanged at 6/1 for the Juddmonte International and the Arc.
Wayne Lordan was reportedly concussed and had a gash on an arm but is moving all his limbs. He was conscious and talking and has been taken to Tallaght Hospital for tests.
Jessica Harrington 's charge Sprewell eventually finished a well-beaten sixth and she later said:-
“Sprewell is ok. He just got interfered with at the wrong time and probably wasn’t quite letting himself down on the ground.
“I shut my eyes for a second and thought he was going to fall and Shane (Foley) was going to fall again. It’s amazing what goes through your mind in half a second.
“He’ll live to fight another day.”
Paddy Power and Betfair make Auguste Rodin 9/4 (from 11/4) for the King George, and unchanged at 6/1 favourite for the Arc.
Today’s attendance at the Curragh was 10,897 compared to 11,242 (on Saturday) last year.
The overall total attendance for the three days was 23,653 compared with 18,970 last year.
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
