Father beat son in the O’Brien family’s head-to-head on Thursday, as Aidan O’Brien’s San Antonio made the most of a difficult passage in the Dee Stakes for Alder, trained by his son, Donnacha, to win the day’s Derby trial by just under two lengths. Of greater significance with the Classic in mind, however, was the fact that the winning trainer was on the Roodee, and so able to confirm that Auguste Rodin, the well-beaten favourite in the 2,000 Guineas, remains his No 1 hope for Epsom on 3 June.
In the run-up to the Newmarket Classic, O’Brien made it clear that he saw Auguste Rodin as his best prospect for some years for a run at the Triple Crown. That dream got no further than the first, and most difficult, leg but the trainer’s faith in Auguste Rodin’s talent is undiminished.
