Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:
Top horse-racing tips and the latest news.
AUGUSTE Rodin is set to target back-to-back Derby wins following news he will contest the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday July 2.
The beautifully bred son of Deep Impact and Rhododendron justified his lofty reputation to land the Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday, just weeks after he was beaten by 22 lengths when finishing 12th of 14 as 13-8 favourite in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.
Yet master trainer Aidan O’Brien was adamant his charge had a great chance of putting the Guineas disappointment behind him and win at Epsom. He was proved correct with the half-length victory under Ryan Moore from King Of Steel, the pair finishing clear of White Birch, four and three quarter lengths back in third place.
And now Michael Tabor – who owns the son of Deep Impact in partnership with John and Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith and Georg von Opel’s Westerberg racing operation – has confirmed the Irish Derby is the next step.
“It was really good. It was what we obviously hoped for. We thought he could do it and he did. We are all delighted, naturally. It was one of the great days,” Tabor said.
“I would say he’ll go to the Irish Derby. I haven’t discussed it, but it’s common sense to say he definitely goes to the Irish Derby. Then we’ll bring him back in trip – a mile and a quarter – for some of those races.”
“He won’t go to the St Leger,” he added. “In my mind, that Triple Crown dream is over. A St Leger horse is not what we are looking for, once he can’t do a Triple Crown.”
“It is a long way before the end of the year. We’ll see how he is. It could be the Arc, but the ground could be against him, although he won on soft as a two-year-old.
“We’ve even got the Breeders’ Cup as an option on the turf. We’ll see how he goes and have those discussions, I’m sure.”
In other news connections of Betfred Derby third White Birch have confirmed they will reoppose at the Curragh, where he is priced at 8-1 in the market headed by Auguste Rodin at 4-6 (Paddy Power).
“He is on the cards for the Irish Derby – that’s Plan A,” White Birch’s trainer John Joseph Murphy said. “He’s come back 100 per cent and all is good.
“He’s progressive. Every run seems to be better, so we hope that curve continues. He’s in very good shape.
“The first plan is the Irish Derby and he will have loads of other entries in the meantime, but we will just play it by the horse.
“We have to take on the winner now. There’s no hiding now – you have got to do it. Hopefully one of these good races will go his way. You never know.”
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