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Irish Derby: Where Did They Come From?

The first, third and fourth from Epsom all meet again after the Derby form was given a boost by the imposing runner-up King Of Steel when winning the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot. Three sons of Galileo take on six of his grandsons, while five Aidan O'Brien-trained runners face one trained by each of his sons, Joseph and Donnacha.

AUGUSTE RODIN (Ire)
Deep Impact (Jpn) – Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})

Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Pedigree notes: The Derby winner hails the final crop of Japanese superstar Deep Impact and from a family which is not short on speed, his third dam being the King's Stand S. winner Casandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). Her offspring include Auguste Rodin's grand-dam, the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Nassau S. winner Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), as well as Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the dam of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). Halfway To Heaven's repeated matings with Galileo (Ire) produced not only the brilliant Magical (Ire) but also the treble Group 1 winner Rhododendron, and Auguste Rodin is the latter's first foal. The one to beat.

SAN ANTONIO (Ire)
Dubawi (Ire) – Rain Goddess (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})

Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Pedigree notes: The Dubawi-Galileo cross has yielded the 2,000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder (Ire) and Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath (Ire). San Antonio is the second foal of Rain Goddess, who was second in the Irish Oaks, a long way behind Enable (GB), and won the G3 Snow Fairy Fillies S. Her grand-dam Virginia Waters won the 1,000 Guineas and was fourth in the Oaks. Winner of the Listed Dee Stakes, San Antonio was last seen finishing 11th of 14 in the Derby.

ADELAIDE RIVER (Ire)
Australia (GB) – Could It Be Love (War Front)

Owner: Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Pedigree notes: Adelaide River's dam's sole win was at seven furlongs, with the best performance of her life coming when finishing runner-up to Alpha Centauri (Ire) in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. The mare is a half-sister to the American champion juvenile and Coolmore sire Uncle Mo, and this is her first foal. He ran eighth in the Derby after finishing runner-up in the Chester Vase and is unlikely to play any more than a supporting role here.

PROUD AND REGAL (Ire)
Galileo (Ire) – Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill)

Owner: Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Donnacha O'Brien

Pedigree notes: Brother to Group 3 winner Mekong River (Ire) and Group 3-placed Simply Beautiful (Ire), his dam was a top-class miler for Jeremy Noseda, winning the G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 Falmouth S. and placing in the 1,000 Guineas. She was herself out of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up Hotelgenie Dot Com (GB) (Selkirk), whose half-sister Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse) won that same race. The winner of last year's G1 Criterium International, Proud And Regal was subsequently seventh in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Improvement needed if he is to make his mark here.

SPREWELL (Ire)
Churchill (Ire) – Lahaleeb (Ire) (Redback {GB})

Owner: Mohamed Khalid Mohamed Abdulrahim
Breeder: Khalid Abdul Rahaim
Trainer: Jessica Harrington

Pedigree notes: Bred by Khalid Abdul Rahaim, who enjoyed great success on the track with his dam Lahaleeb (Ire), winner of the GI EP Taylor S. Sprewell, who finished fourth in the Derby, is the highest-rated runner for the mare and races in the colours of his breeder's son Mohamed Khalid Mohamed Abdulrahim. Like White Birch, he hails from a family cultivated by Cheveley Park Stud, where his unraced granddam Flames (GB) (Blushing Flame) was bred.

COVENT GARDEN (Ire)
Galileo (Ire) – Inca Princess (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire})

Owner: Westerberg, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Pedigree notes: His dam has now produced six black-type performers by Galileo, led by the juvenile Group 1 winner Johannes Vermeer (Ire). Inca Princess won a six-furlong maiden in just three starts and is a daughter of the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Miletrian (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). The outsider of the field, Covent Garden won a Tipperary maiden over nine furlongs last October and was third to Peking Opera in the Yeats S. on his only start this term.

UP AND UNDER (Fr)
Lope De Vega (Ire) – Hibiscus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})

Owner: Go Racing Limited
Breeder: Floors Stud
Trainer Joseph O'Brien

Sales history: A 220,000gns Tattersalls December Foal from the Floors Stud dispersal, the colt was bought back as a yearling by Yeomanstown Stud at Book 1 and then reoffered at Arqana's Breeze-up Sale, where he fetched €135,000 in a private transaction.

Pedigree notes: His listed-placed dam is a sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Line Of Duty (Ire) and half to G2 Great Voltigeur runner-up Secret State (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Granddam Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) finished first past the post in the 1,000 Guineas but was demoted to second for interference. Up And Under has Group 3 placings behind both Sprewell and White Birch. Still a maiden, he looks useful but this is quite a stiff task.

WHITE BIRCH (GB)
Ulysses (Ire) – Diagnostic (GB) (Dutch Art {GB})

Owner: Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez
Breeder: Cheveley Park Stud
Trainer: John Joseph Murphy

Sales history: 75,000gns Tattersalls December Foals; 48,000gns (not sold) Tattersalls October Book 2 Yearlings.

Pedigree notes: Bred by Cheveley Park Stud, he was bought by Tally-Ho Stud as a foal but didn't reach his reserve at the yearling sales. Subsequently bought privately by his trainer, he has since changed hands to Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez and has run with great credit to be placed in both the Derby and the Dante. His dam was a multiple winner over six and seven furlongs from a family which includes the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. winner Clinical (GB) (Motivator {GB}).

PEKING OPERA (Ire)
Galileo (Ire) – Bugle (War Front)

Breeder: Premier Bloodstock
Owner: Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg
Trainer Aidan O'Brien

Pedigree notes: His Stone Farm-bred dam is a sister to the dual Group 1-wining juvenile Air Force Blue and her first foal, Yee Haw (Ire), by Frankel (GB), is a winner in France. Further family also includes GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Flanders (Seeking The Gold). Winner of a mile maiden at two, then the Listed Yeats S. on resumption at three, Peking Opera was seventh last Wednesday in the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.

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Auguste Rodin Bids To Provide O’Brien With 100th Classic Win In Irish Derby

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is on track to bid for a Derby double at the Curragh on Sunday with Aidan O'Brien's Epsom hero heading a field of 11 forfeits for the Curragh showpiece.

If successful in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, Auguste Rodin would provide the master of Ballydoyle with his 100th European Classic success, but the colt will face stiff competition with the third and fourth home at Epsom still in the picture for the race.

O'Brien has five horses remaining in the €1.25m contest, which will be the first Irish Derby run on a Sunday since 2011, and the main attraction of the three-day fixture.

Auguste Rodin will be bidding to give Ryan Moore his first win in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and the rider heaped praise on O'Brien ahead of what could be an historic weekend for the trainer.

Moore said, “Aidan has shown for the last 30 years what an unbelievable talent he is. Genius gets bandied around an awful lot but how he prepares his horses and gets them to that day, to do it as many times as he has is a very special thing to do.

“I know the horse was disappointing at Newmarket, but there were reasons for that and Aidan always had complete belief in the horse. He is a horse that everyone always held in the highest regard from a very early stage.”

Auguste Rodin could also become the first horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double since Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in 2016. Among those standing in his way could be his own stable companions Adelaide River, Covent Garden, Peking Opera and San Antonio.

However, John Murphy's White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), a first ride in the Irish Derby for Dylan Browne McMonagle, and the Jessica Harrington-trained Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), third and fourth respectively at Epsom a month ago, appear to be the biggest threats to O'Brien's Epsom scorer.

Harrington is expecting a big run from Sprewell but is realistic about the task at hand. She said on Tuesday, “I'm very happy with his preparation. He came out of Epsom very well and we've just slowly built him up. He's a very laid-back character and it's quite easy to keep the preparation going.

“Auguste Rodin is going to be very difficult to beat. He's proved himself to be an exceptional horse, to come back from what was a disaster really in the 2,000 Guineas.

“It was a great training feat for Aidan to get him back and to win so easily, as he did in Epsom. He's got to go out and do it again, but I'm presuming he'll be in good order. He's got it on the board and he beat us a fair way.”

She added, “You're always hoping. You don't go into those races thinking, 'I'll be grand being second'. I want to go in there thinking, 'I'll be grand if I can win'.”

Also standing their ground ahead of Friday's final declaration stage are the Dermot Weld-trained Knight To King, an impressive winner at Gowran Park on his debut, Joseph O'Brien's Leopardstown Derby Trial second Up And Under, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Proud And Regal and the Ralph Beckett-trained Salt Bay.

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Browne McMonagle Snapped Up To Ride White Birch In Irish Derby

Dylan Browne McMonagle has been provided with a golden opportunity to record his first Classic success in the saddle with the news that John Murphy has snapped up the young riding sensation for White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) ahead of Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

White Birch overcame a nightmare start to finish an excellent third in the Derby behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). He was ridden at Epsom by Colin Keane but, with the reigning Irish champion jockey suspended for Sunday's highlight, Murphy has turned to Browne McMonagle to ride the Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez-owned colt.

Speaking of his delight about the call up, Browne McMonagle told Racing TV, “I'm delighted to get the leg up, massive thanks to connections and Mr Murphy and all the gang down there. It is a great ride to pick up and I'm just blessed to get the leg over him.

“It's my first ride in the race, so hopefully we will have a bit of luck. He has got good form coming into it. I think the Curragh will suit him well.”

Browne McMonagle is based with Joseph O'Brien, for whom he partnered his first Group 1 victory aboard Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the National S. at the Curragh last season.

While acknowledging that his Irish Derby mount has a tendency to break slowly from the stalls, Browne McMonagle says that he is confident that, if the colt can get away with that anywhere, the Curragh is the place given the fairness of the track.

“He's a bit awkward away from the gates but I think if it happens again we won't be worrying because in the Curragh you have got plenty of time to get into it. There's a long straight there, so hopefully he has got a live chance and can run a big race.”

“He has won on heavy and he has form on good to firm ground, so we are going to have no worries that way. He's fairly versatile and I think the Curragh is going to suit him well. He's going to have plenty of time to get into it, it is a big galloping track.”

Browne McMonagle added, “He seems to be getting to the line well on his last couple of starts. Hopefully, he will be bang there.”

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Murphy Eyes Irish Derby For White Birch After Epsom Third

John Murphy has reported White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) to have come out of his third-placed Derby effort in good order and says that he is looking forward to the rematch with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh insisting “there's no hiding now”.

Despite breaking slowly at Epsom on Saturday, White Birch made tremendous late ground to finish a good third under Colin Keane, leaving connections optimistic about what the future may hold for the grey.

“It was a relief. We were absolutely delighted. He came home safe and sound, not a bother on him,” said Murphy on Tuesday.

“He is on the cards for the Irish Derby–that's Plan A. He's come back 100 per cent and all is good. He's progressive. Every run seems to be better, so we hope that curve continues. He's in very good shape.

“The first plan is the Irish Derby and he will have loads of other entries in the meantime, but we will just play it by the horse. We have to take on the winner now. There's no hiding now-you have got to do it. Hopefully one of these good races will go his way. You never know.”

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