Coolmore Stud announced Sept. 27 that six-time group 1 winner and dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin will take up stud duties for the 2025 season at Coolmore's base in Ireland. He will make his final start Nov. 24 in the Japan Cup (G1) and wind up an exceptional career that has delivered group 1 wins at 2, 3, and 4.
"Auguste Rodin is an exceptional racehorse and stallion prospect with the blend of class, speed, and pedigree that only the best possess," said Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. "He is a very special horse for us, and I truly believe he ranks up there with the best middle-distance racehorses and sires that we have stood here before him like Sadler's Wells, Galileo, Montjeu, Caerleon, and Camelot. Physically he fills the eye so well as he has extra quality and movement so I can't wait to see his first crop in Ballydoyle in 2028. We are going to do all we can to give him the best possible opportunity to follow in his illustrious predecessor's footsteps."
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the classy and precocious Auguste Rodin became a winner in his second career start at Naas and went on in his next start to win the Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) at Leopardstown followed by a 3 1/2-length win in the Futurity Trophy (G1) at Doncaster. His 3-year-old campaign built on those early successes with victories in the Epsom Derby (G1), Irish Derby (G1), Irish Champion Stakes (G1), and a season-capping win in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), an achievement that hallmarked his talent and versatility. This year as a 4-year-old, he added the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
By the Japanese Triple Crown winner and 11-time champion sire Deep Impact, Auguste Rodin boasts five multiple-champion sires in his first three generations, along with three standout race-mares, who were all group 1 performers at less than a mile. He is the first foal out of Rhododendron, a triple group 1 winner by multiple leading sire Galileo and a full sister to seven-time group 1 winner and 2019-20 champion older mare Magical. Both mares are out of three-time group 1 and One Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Halfway To Heaven.
Reflecting on Auguste Rodin's remarkable achievements, jockey Ryan Moore said: "He's been an unbelievable horse for us. We have always thought the world of him. He has everything you'd want. He has so much pace. He could kill horses for speed, and he was able to stretch that out over 12 furlongs. Horses like him are so hard to find. An incredible horse."
Echoing the sentiments of Moore, O'Brien added: "Auguste Rodin is out of Rhododendron, one of the best Galileo mares, and by Deep Impact, Japan's best stallion. He connects two of the most powerful breeding lines in the world. He has been a pleasure and a privilege to train. He is just a very unique horse and we're very excited to see what he will achieve at stud. We will be supporting him with our own mares."
Auguste Rodin's career will be remembered for his speed, class, resilience, and dominance on the track, with earnings of almost €6 million (US$6.08 million).
