'Very special' Auguste Rodin bounces back to his best and earns high praise from Aidan O'Brien and Michael Tabor

The front page of Wednesday’s Racing Post pondered the whereabouts of the real Auguste Rodin. We have our answer.

In fending off the late French challenge of Horizon Dore and then Zarakem, the supremely bred son of Deep Impact gained a sixth win from ten starts in top-level company and was described as “very special” by his trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Part-owner Michael Tabor admitted Auguste Rodin can “throw in the odd wobbly”, with his CV including no-shows in the 2,000 Guineas and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last year and the Dubai Sheema Classic in March. He can also be brilliant.

The day-two feature proved seamless for the 13-8 favourite, with Ryan Moore well positioned aboard Auguste Rodin in fourth and having the leaders – headed by Snobbish – in his sights turning into the straight.

Royal Rhyme grasped the lead approaching the two-furlong pole but Auguste Rodin was waiting menacingly to pounce. Moore started to cajole his mount and his willing partner kept finding.

While Inspiral failed to mount a serious challenge, Horizon Dore looked a big threat to Auguste Rodin at the furlong pole and Zarakem powered on to the scene late.

Auguste Rodin had enough in reserve, though, winning by three-quarters of a length and sealing a 400th Group or Grade 1 win on the Flat for Aidan O’Brien. He brought up the tally including jumps winners when Luxembourg landed the Tattersalls Gold Cup last year.

Auguste Rodin and Ryan Moore after the Prince of Wales's StakesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O’Brien, in typically modest fashion, blamed his tactics for some of Auguste Rodin’s previous disappointments but was delighted to see him back to his best, with this win earning a career-best Racing Post Rating of 126 – 1lb higher than he achieved in the Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf last year.

He said: “He’s very special. This is a big summer Group 1 that we all want to win so I’m delighted for everyone involved. He gets a mile and a half very well but when he gets to the front he waits. We were riding him too far back and when there was no pace, he was too far out of the race. I feel the blips were my fault, the instructions were wrong, and it was time to start getting it right.

“We changed everything, Ryan said he was going to ride him positively from now on and engage him straight away. He still waited there when he hit the front, before going again. He has a personality.”

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After being presented with a saddlecloth featuring the number 400, O’Brien added: “I’m grateful to everyone who works so hard day in and day out – it’s a big team effort. There’s been so many special days – be it the Derby, Royal Ascot or anywhere – and you have to appreciate these moments if they happen.

“I never think too far ahead about what could be next. It’s all about staying in the minute and working a day at a time.”

Auguste Rodin races in Tabor’s silks and the brilliantly successful owner afforded him notably high praise, referencing a famous Arc and King George winner and his 1995 Kentucky Derby hero.

Tabor said: “Auguste Rodin throws in the occasional wobbly but he’s special. He has to be one of the best I’ve owned in my colours.

“I’ve had some amazing horses, and Montjeu and Thunder Gulch come to mind, and when you have a horse like this you never get tired of it. When he hits the front, it’s just a great feeling.”

Auguste Rodin wins the Prince of Wales's Stakes from French raider Zarakem under Ryan MooreCredit: Edward Whitaker

This victory ensured Ryan Moore equalled Frankie Dettori’s tally of 81 winners at the royal meeting and was his third success in the Prince of Wales’s having struck on Highland Reel in 2017 and Love in 2021.

Moore is clearly fond of Auguste Rodin, having ridden him on all bar one of his starts, and no doubt enjoyed silencing the doubters.

The jockey, who was suspended for two days for careless riding in allowing his mount to drift right when insufficiently clear of Royal Rhyme, said: “He’s a great little horse. Okay, a few times it hasn’t happened, but there have been reasons every time.

“People are always very quick to knock horses. As soon as they get beat, they want to have a go at you. Every time you send them away, they have a pop at that as well.

“He took me there, going very well, and when I asked him, he really showed great courage. He wanted to win and is a proper horse. He’s been a real good horse and he did everything beautifully – he deserved that.”

O’Brien described the King George, for which the Prince of Wales’s winner was cut to 5-2 favourite (from 4) with William Hill, as a “very possible target”, and a defence of his Breeders' Cup Turf crown appears a long-range aim. Auguste Rodin is very much back.

Awesome Aidan O’Brien

Milestone Group/Grade 1 Flat wins

​1st Desert King (1996 National Stakes)
100th Aussie Rules (2006 Poule d’Essai des Poulains)
200th Was (2012 Oaks)
300th Saxon Warrior (2018 2,000 Guineas)
400th Auguste Rodin (2024 Prince of Wales’s Stakes)

Plus 22 Grade 1 wins over jumps

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