Racing Post

Derby hero Rodin only ordinary on the clock

Epsom review Dave Edwards

ALTHOUGH Auguste Rodin dipped over a second under Racing Post standard when landing the Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday, his performance on the clock was ordinary and the overall time of the Epsom Classic, 2min 33.88sec, was respectable but nothing to get excited about. After applying the all-important going correction the Ballydoyle colt warranted a Topspeed rating of 101, modest in terms of the colts’ premier Classic.

In the past decade only Ruler Of the World (91) in 2013 and Australia (100) the following year have earned lower Topspeed figures in the Derby.

Form ratings are an interpretation of the calibre of the horse, but a speed figure is merely a reflection of how a race was run on a particular day compared to other races on the card. The ‘key’ race on Saturday was the concluding 6f handicap won by Badri whose time of 1min 6.94sec bettered par by 0.86sec. Officially rated 96, after applying Topspeed methodology Ruth Carr’s sprinter merited a personal best speed figure of 99.

Sectionals reveal that after the first half-mile Auguste Rodin lagged around a second behind stablemate Adelaide River and mid-race the pace then eased. Three from home he was still 0.45sec behind the leader but concluding exceptional splits of 10.83sec, 10.73sec and 11.45sec saw him land the spoils.

When landing the Betfred Oaks at Epsom on Friday, Soul Sister (88) clocked 2min 36.41sec which was 2.63sec slower than that recorded by Emily Upjohn (98), who won the Dahlbury Coronation Cup for older horses over the same course and distance earlier.

At 1m4f, a second equates to around 9.2lb so 2.63sec equates to around 24lb but the Oaks winner is entitled to 11lb on the Topspeed weight-forage scale and carried 3lb more so the time difference between the pair is 10lb.

For comparison, after a mile the pair were virtually stride for stride but thereafter Emily Upjohn sprouted wings as breathtaking splits of 10,52sec, 10.90sec and 12.06sec testify. John and Thady Gosden’s filly covered the final three furlongs in 33.48sec and, in contrast, her younger stablemate and Oaks heroine Soul Sister took 35.82sec.

Chantilly review

CONDITIONS at Chantilly on Sunday were officially described as good but times suggested firm was much nearer the mark and pride of place went to Ace Impact (110) who posted a new track record of 2min 2.63sec, in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club.

Unbeaten in three previous starts, Jean-Claude Rouget’s rising star had just one behind him 600m from home and was almost a second behind front-running favourite Big Rock. However three lung-bursting splits of 11.43sec, 11.19sec and a final 11.39sec saw him overhaul his rival and score convincingly by three and a half lengths with the French 2,000 Guineas winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi a further two and half lengths adrift in third.

Harnessed to an outstanding time the form looks gilt-edged. Pencilled in for a crack at the Arc later in the year, the Eclipse and Juddmonte International could also be in the melting pot. His ability to quicken off a true pace is the hallmark of class.

TAKING STOCK

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2023-06-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

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