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Auguste Rodin features amongst the strong field of ten for the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday as Aidan O’Brien’s colt attempts to complete a memorable Derby double.
The son of Deep Impact had his doubters heading into the Epsom Derby on the back of an absolute no-show in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, but he displayed his class in breathtaking style when coming clear to deny King Of Steel by half a length.
The runner-up, who subsequently went on to land the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last week, is the only one of the first four home at Epsom not to feature in the ten entries at the five-day stage.
Auguste Rodin looks set to go off long odds-on for this Sunday's feature with Ryan Moore hopeful to continue his red-hot form by landing a first Irish Derby.
Moore said: "Aidan has shown for the last 30 years what an unbelievable talent he is.
"Genius gets bandied around an awful lot but how he prepares his horses and gets them to that day, to do it as many times as he has is a very special thing to do.
"I know the horse was disappointing at Newmarket, but there were reasons for that, and Aidan always had complete belief in the horse.
"He is a horse that everyone always held in the highest regard from a very early stage."
John Murphy-trained White Birch stayed on well to finish third at Epsom and Dylan Browne McMonagle will get the leg-up on the striking grey for the first time.
He told Racing TV: "I'm delighted to get the leg-up, massive thanks to connections and Mr Murphy and all the gang down there. It is a great ride to pick up and I'm just blessed to get the leg over him.
"It's my first ride in the race, so hopefully we will have a bit of luck. He has got good form coming into it. I think the Curragh will suit him well.
"He's a bit awkward away from the gates, but I think if it happens again, we won't be worrying because in the Curragh you have got plenty of time to get into it. There's a long straight there, so hopefully he has got a live chance and can run a big race."
Jessie Harrington will be hoping her runner, Sprewell, can turn the tables with Auguste Rodin on their Epsom clash but admits it will be no easy task.
"I'm very happy with his preparation. He came out of Epsom very well and we've just slowly built him up."
"He's a very laid-back character and it's quite easy to keep the preparation going.
"Auguste Rodin is going to be very difficult to beat. He's proved himself to be an exceptional horse, to come back from what was a disaster really in the English 2000 Guineas.
"It was a great training feat for Aidan [O'Brien] to get him back and to win so easily, as he did in Epsom.
"He's got to go out and do it again, but I'm presuming he'll be in good order. He's got it on the board, and he beat us a fair way.
"You're always hoping. You don't go into those races thinking, 'I'll be grand being second'. I want to go in there thinking, 'I'll be grand if I can win'."
"It looks like it's going to be lovely ground, perfect good ground which will be ideal – no extremes in any direction."
Salt Bay is the sole UK-based representative with Ralph Beckett eyeing back-to-back Irish Derby's following Westover's impressive performance at the Curragh last season.
