Auguste Rodin Has the Answers in The Prince of Wales’s

[Wandering Eyes]

Granted the ideal conditions of fast ground and a true pace to run at, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) became the first Derby winner to come back and win Royal Ascot's Prince of Wales's Stakes since Royal Palace (GB) in 1968. Unique in his achievement in that he was augmenting his Blue Riband triumph with this feature prize in its current guise as a group 1, Ballydoyle's ground-breaking colt put all doubts that he was yesterday's horse firmly behind him with this spirited display.

Travelling in ideal flow in fourth behind the two pacemakers and outsider Royal Rhyme (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), the 13-8 favourite moved to the front two out where it was the French raiders Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) and Zarakem (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) who emerged as threats and not the slow-starting and ultimately disappointing Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}). It was the 33-1 shot Zarakem who got closest in the dying strides, but the winner was never going to allow them less than the 3/4-of-a-length margin that was called at the line. Zarakem denied Horizon Dore, who met notable trouble in running, the runner-up spot by a length as Inspiral wound up sixth with John Gosden citing lack of stamina as the issue.

“He gets to the front and he waits and then goes again–he has a personality, like all the good ones do,” Aidan O'Brien said after welcoming back a fifth winner of this race, before turning attention to a potential tilt at the dirt in the States. “He can do anything now. He cruises on the dirt and we see now he is very happy to be ridden forward. I got the instructions wrong before, as he was too far back. It's up to the lads what they want to do, but we'd be more confident now we've worked him out and can keep it very straightforward. It's his high cruise that's important.”

 

Superstar! Auguste Rodin lands the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/HtKbTi7kIb

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2024

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