STEEL UP FOR ROD TEST
ROGER VARIAN “wouldn’t run away” from a rematch with Betfred Derby victor Auguste Rodin after saddling King Of Steel to a heroic 66-1 second at Epsom on Saturday.
The towering colt, making his stable debut and giving owner
Amo Racing’s retained rider Kevin Stott his first mount in the Classic, dashed for glory at the two-furlong pole before being overhauled by Auguste Rodin and Ryan Moore.
The half-length victor, giving Aidan O’brien a record-extending ninth Derby triumph, is likely to head to the Irish version on July 2 – and King Of Steel could seek revenge at the Curragh.
“Auguste Rodin was the winner on the day – not by much – but credit to Aidan and the team at Ballydoyle,” said Varian.
“You wouldn’t run away from taking him on again – we’d all be hopeful that there’s a lot more to come – and I think most likely he would go to the Irish Derby or the Grand Prix de Paris [at Longchamp on July 14].
“We’re still learning about him and he’s learning about the game so if we could stay among his own age group for his next run that would make sense.” King Of Steel’s effort was all the more praiseworthy given King Of Steel’s withdrawal from his intended reappearance in York’s Dante Stakes – he was scratched after becoming unruly in the starting stalls – last month.
“Ifs and buts – had we had a prep run, I don’t think you could say it would have changed the result,” admitted Varian.
ACE IMPACT stormed home to give Jean-claude Rouget a sixth victory in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, with Epictetus and Frankie Dettori back in fifth.