Auguste Rodin delighted Aidan O'Brien with his latest piece of work at Ballydoyle and the trainer now believes his confidence is back before the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, the day one feature of the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday week.
Just like last year, Auguste Rodin is heading to Leopardstown on the back of a bitterly disappointing King George effort but that did not stop him from winning the race in 2023 and he is now 7-2 second favourite behind Economics to repeat the feat following the news Ryan Moore will ride him in preference to this year's Irish Derby hero Los Angeles.
O'Brien said: "Auguste Rodin loves fast ground and his last piece of work was excellent, he showed a lot of zest. He went by his lead horse very easily, where usually he wouldn’t at that stage of the work. He was very confident, and we were very happy when we saw it. It was a bit different. He’s changed into a four-year-old now, that’s what we felt. He’s all quality.
"If he runs, I’d imagine Ryan will ride him but, if the ground got soft, everything might change."
The trainer added: "We think he’s a mile-and-a-quarter horse who gets a mile and a half. He’s a very slick horse, he travels very well and does everything very easily. We think he’s going to suit the race, and the next race will suit him as well."
That next race is likely to be the Japan Cup if all goes well at Leopardstown. O'Brien remains adamant the ground was to blame for the fact he was beaten more than 11 lengths by Goliath in the King George. He said: "We felt he was in on the worst of it. I’m not trying to make excuses, but that’s what we felt. The first three all came from the back and wide. The ground was definitely soft where he was, down the rail, and it was cut-up, soft ground."
The 2022 winner Luxembourg will join Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes, as will Los Angeles, for whom the Arc appears to be the ultimate autumn aim.
O'Brien said: "Luxembourg will run and it looks at the moment like Los Angeles is going to run at Leopardstown as well. We had it in our head going to York that he might go that way, and that was the reason for doing it. We think he could run in the first three, four, or five in the Champion Stakes and could then go on to an Arc. If the ground gets soft in France, he’ll have no problem with that.
"We were delighted with his run in York. We could go to a Leger with him, but we have three other horses that look like real Leger horses."
Those three are Illinois, Grosvenor Square and Jan Brueghel, with Wayne Lordan set to ride the Great Voltigeur runner-up Illinois.
The Irish St Leger is open to older horses and Kyprios is 4-5 with Paddy Power to win it for a second time.
O'Brien said: "Everything has gone very well with him and the plan is to go to the Irish Leger. He's a hard horse to read because he's very lazy. He only does what he has to do, but he did look very good at Goodwood the last day."
He added: "All being well, the Gold Cup next year again is what we would be dreaming about. It's very difficult to get a Gold Cup horse. The majority of horses, no matter how classy they are, when they go by the two and a quarter miles, very few go further. It's incredible he's come back, but that's down to everyone around him."
Ylang Ylang is on course for a crack at the Matron Stakes with O'Brien suggesting she will be a "different" filly to the one who trailed in seventh of eight in the Desmond Stakes last month. He said: "We’ll ride her more positively and forward."
Chesham Stakes winner Bedtime Story will bid to make it five from five in the Moyglare Stakes, a race O'Brien has won nine times but not since 2019, while the unbeaten Henri Matisse is likely to be the Ballydoyle number one in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes.
Irish Champion Stakes Plans
Aidan O'Brien has confirmed that Auguste Rodin, Los Angeles, and Luxembourg will all be aiming for the Irish Champion Stakes. Auguste Rodin, the defending champion, is aiming to bounce back from a disappointing King George effort, while Los Angeles, the winner of the Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur, is targeting a step back in trip before a potential run in the Arc. Luxembourg, the 2022 winner, is a consistent performer over a mile and a quarter.
Los Angeles: A Potential Arc Horse
Los Angeles, having won the Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur Stakes, is considered by O'Brien to be a potential Arc horse. While he could go to the St Leger, O'Brien believes a step back in trip to the Irish Champion Stakes would be a more suitable preparation for the Arc.
Auguste Rodin: A Bounce Back Attempt
Auguste Rodin, the 2023 winner of the Irish Champion Stakes, is aiming to bounce back from a disappointing performance in the King George. O'Brien believes the soft ground was to blame for the defeat and is confident that Auguste Rodin is back in top form.
Other Notable Plans
Ylang Ylang is set to race in the Matron Stakes, Kyprios will aim for a second consecutive Irish St Leger, and Henri Matisse is the top choice for the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes. The Lion In Winter is a possible runner in the Goffs Million, while Bedtime Story and Lake Victoria are both under consideration for the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
O'Brien's Strategy for the Festival
O'Brien's strategy for the Irish Champions Festival is to give his top horses the best possible chance of success while also considering their future plans. He is looking to build momentum for the Arc with Los Angeles, get Auguste Rodin back on track, and confirm Luxembourg's position as a consistent performer. His juvenile runners are also well-positioned to make a big impact on the weekend.
A Busy and Exciting Weekend
The Irish Champions Festival promises to be a busy and exciting weekend of racing, with top-class competition across both days. O'Brien's stable is well-represented in the key races, and it will be fascinating to see how his horses perform. The Irish Champions Festival is sure to be a highlight of the autumn racing season, and O'Brien's team is certainly one to watch.
