Auguste Rodin bid for Epsom-Curragh double 'very possible' in boost to Irish Derby

• Published date: 05 June 2023
• Author: Brian O'Connor
• Publication title: Irish Times: Web Edition Articles (Dublin, Ireland)

The Deep Impact colt, described by his trainer as the most important horse he's had through his hands, is a 4-6 favourite with some firms for the Curragh classic

Other factors, such as an extra €250,000 in prize money for Ireland's premier classic, and an extra week between Epsom and the Curragh this year, are encouraging hopes at Irish racing's HQ for a potentially exceptional renewal of the race.

However, it is the likely presence of the Epsom winner that's likely to prove the biggest fillip of all in boosting a race that has been under pressure in recent years.

The last horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double was Harzand in 2016. He was the 18th to accomplish the feat. However, what once was a near automatic classic route has become much less certain recently.

Neither Adayar (2021) or Desert Crown last year subsequently lined up for the Irish Derby. Masar in 2018 also skipped it. Anthony Van Dyck did attempt the double a year later but was beaten by Sovereign. The 2020 Irish Derby took place before Epsom due to the pandemic.

Previously the race had been dogged by competition fears due to some prohibitively short-priced favourites and O'Brien dominance that has yielded him a record 14 wins in the race to date.

That supremacy might now work in the race's favour by helping to produce a landmark element to this year's Irish Derby mix.

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O'Brien has 99 European classic wins on the back of Auguste Rodin's Epsom victory. He could hit a 'century' at the Curragh, providing he doesn't reach it prior to that in the French Oaks later this month.

"At the moment, it's very possible he [Auguste Rodin] could run in the Irish Derby," O'Brien said on Monday.

That is both positive and timely news for Curragh officials eager to spur the €1.25 million classic's prestige.

"You're always looking to get the Epsom winner to come over," the Curragh's chief executive Brian Kavanagh acknowledged on Monday.

His team has quickly been in contact with connections of horses that lined up at Epsom as well as in Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. Ace Impact was an impressive winner of that French Derby but is unlikely to make the trip to Ireland.

However, local stars White Birch and Sprewell (third and fourth at Epsom) are likely to line up at the Curragh, while the beaten Epsom favourite Arrest is also set to line up.

His trainer John Gosden...