Aidan O’Brien says his star older horse Auguste Rodin is “ready to run to his best” when he begins his four-year-old campaign in Dubai on Saturday.
The colt won the Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2023 to take his worldwide earnings to £4million.
He will earn another £2.7m if he captures the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic under Ryan Moore on the Dubai World Cup card.
The son of the late Japanese superstar Deep Impact is highly coveted as a stallion but owners the Coolmore partners opted to hold off on a stud career to pursue new challenges as a four-year-old.
Auguste Rodin came from Deep Impact’s last crop and is still the only foal to emerge from the triple Group 1-winning dam Rhododendron.
“He’s so important to the breed of the thoroughbred," said O’Brien. "He brings together the best of Japan and Europe - the best of two continents - and it’s fair to say he’s one of the most important and exciting horses we have ever had. He really does have a chance of exerting a huge influence on future racehorses.
“It was a very brave decision by the lads to keep him in training, most definitely," O’Brien added. "There was already huge interest in him as a stallion prospect.
“But his owners are enjoying their racing more than ever these days and they are conscious of how unique this horse is. I think it’s great for everyone in racing that we can enjoy him again this year.”
Auguste Rodin is the highest rated horse on the whole card but those credentials will be seriously tested by top quality opposition who include three females, Japan’s Liberty Island and Stars On Earth, and the British mare Emily Upjohn.
The Ballydoyle handler continued: “We feel he has matured well from three to four and the reports from the team at Meydan are that he has travelled there well and is in great form.
"He is ready to run to his best and we are very excited about the journey ahead.” The journey could include a try on dirt in the US later in the year.
“I think, as a rule, Deep Impacts are more grass horses, but we were very surprised the way he worked on dirt in America during the Breeders’ Cup,” the trainer said
“He cruises over the dirt, he’s a beautiful mover. He’s a very unusual-actioned horse so it will be very interesting to see how the season progresses. We can’t wait to see him back.”
