AIDAN HAILS HIS HOT ROD
Auguste underlines class in Derby
AIDAN O’BRIEN lavished praise on his “most important horse ever” after Auguste Rodin lived up to the hype in the Betfred Derby.
Ballydoyle’s long-term number one hope bounced right back to form to run out an impressive winner of the £1.5million Epsom Classic.
But there was drama in the early stages, when a man ran on to the course and was wrestled to the ground by security.
Other Animal Rising supporters, who vowed to disrupt the major event, were thwarted by a massive operation.
The on-course protestor was held on the ground as 9-2 shot Auguste Rodin thundered past to hand O’Brien (inset) a ninth title.
“He’s probably the most important horse ever,” said the trainer, whose colt continues the legacy of Coolmore’s all-time great stallion Galileo, by Japanese sire Deep Impact.
“He brings the two continents together. I think it’s so exciting.
by MELISSA JONES
This horse has everything – temperament, movement, he has a personality. It’s a great pleasure to have anything to do with him.”
The final result looked ominous when Ryan Moore’s mount moved into contention.
However they found King Of
Steel a tougher rival than his
66-1 odds anticipated.
Jockey Kevin
Stott got to within half-a-length of bagging the coveted trophy on his first ride in the
Derby.
None of the others, including
Frankie Dettori’s well-backed 4-1 favourite Arrest, could land a telling blow – with the John Joseph Murphy-trained White Birch best of the rest in third.
“I was always confident I had them covered,” said
Moore, whose winner flopped when a hot favourite for the
2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in early May.
“Aidan O’Brien is the only man that could do it – he always had a lot of belief in the horse.”
On the day of the race, which was held at an earlier time due to the
FA Cup final, Surrey Police made 31 arrests in connection with planned criminal disruption – 12 of which were within the racecourse grounds.
Epsom’s owners The Jockey Club invested £150,000 on extra security and obtained an injunction to protect the large site from illegal action.
An ‘official’ protest, staged in a dedicated area outside of the track, was attended by around 40 people.
Chief executive Nevin Truesdale said they will take steps to pursue a prosecution against the course invader, while a woman who tried to get on the track was also detained by officers.
He added: “Animal Rising have repeatedly stated that they would not attempt to disrupt any races while in progress.
“We utterly condemn their deplorable and mindless actions.”