Auguste Rodin will be feted a Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday no matter the result of the Japan Cup, but Aidan O’Brien is desperate to ensure it is a winner’s ceremony.
The legendary trainer shrewdly identified the 2400-metre Group 1 as the perfect swansong for the Coolmore star, who will be the subject of a post-race parade win, lose or draw despite never having raced in Japan.
That’s because the five-time Group 1 winner is a son of arguably Japan’s greatest ever thoroughbred, 2006 Japan Cup winner Deep Impact.
Never has one of his sons or daughters trained outside Japan contested a race in the country he ruled as a racehorse and continues to impact via his sons of daughters.
Auguste Rodin would become Deep Impact’s fourth Japan Cup champion if successful, following Contrail (2021), Shanon Pandora (2015) and Gentildonna, who won in 2012 and 2013.
O’Brien has been in Tokyo since earlier this week and said it was a privilege to see how well-received Auguste Rodin has been in Japan ahead of the AU$10.7 million event.
“I think it’s very special frankly and we would have never expected it, but we really appreciate it and we’re really amazed how respectful the Japanese public are of Auguste Rodin,” O’Brien said of the post-race ceremony.
“Obviously, he’s by Deep Impact, which makes him very special, so we really appreciate it and we feel very privileged and grateful to everybody for doing it and being so appreciative of him coming down and competing in it.”
O’Brien’s satisfaction at winning would run beyond the Auguste Rodin fairytale with the Ballydoyle master a Japan Cup maiden.
It is 20 years since his first runner, Powerscourt, who finished 10th, and the best O’Brien has managed with a handful of runners since was Idaho’s fifth placing in 2017.
Auguste Rodin heads in off a second placing in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes (2011m), which followed a fifth placing to Japan Cup rival Goliath at Ascot in July, with his most recent victory coming in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2012m) at Royal Ascot in June.
He doesn’t appear to have an Equinox, Almond Eye, Kitasan Black or Deep Impact to deal with this year, but O’Brien said a local contingent headed up by star filly Cirvinia and last-start Tenno Sho winner Do Deuce will offer stern resistance.
“For him to win it would be something that we dream about, but it’s very difficult to win these races,” O’Brien said.
“We know that better than anybody, we’ve got beat a lot of times in them.
“When they’re this competitive it’s very difficult, but that’s what makes it very special really.
“If he was to win, it would be incredible for us, but you don’t ever expect those things to happen.
“You try and you do your best in every way and you try and have the right horse.”
Auguste Rodin will be ridden by Ryan Moore, who is chasing a third win in the Japan Cup after victories aboard Gentildonna (2013) and Vela Azul (2022) with the pair to jump from barrier eight in the field of 14.