Aidan O'Brien hails 'most important horse' Auguste Rodin after Derby win

When you have won the Betfred Derby nine times, you might start to run out of superlatives. But Aidan O'Brien believes the victory of Auguste Rodin at Epsom was arguably his most important as a trainer.

Cynics may point to the fact that O’Brien is bound to say that – his job, as well as training elite thoroughbreds, is to create the next great stallion.

However, there is no disputing the fact Auguste Rodin is not a run-of-the-mill Derby winner. His sire, Deep Impact, was arguably the greatest racehorse Japan has ever seen while his dam, Rhododendron, was a three-time Group One winner and second to Enable in the Oaks, making her among the best mares produced by champion sire Galileo.

O’Brien made no secret Auguste Rodin was not an ordinary colt, and in the spring was quoted as saying if he ever had a horse capable of winning the Triple Crown, this was it. Unfortunately the dream fell at the first hurdle in the 2000 Guineas when Auguste Rodin could only finish 12th of the 14 runners.

The trainer was happy to believe that run was too bad to be true and he proved that in no uncertain terms, running down outsider King Of Steel in the closing stages, with the pair well clear.

O’Brien said: "It’s been unusual with this horse from the very start, from when John (Magnier) and everyone decided to send a maiden mare all the way to Japan to be covered.

"Then when she was scanned in foal with a colt, all the way through there’s been hype and expectation.

"In all our measurements he was hitting the top all the way, that is very difficult for any horse but he did all the way, even before he came to Ballydoyle.

"I remember Ryan (Moore) coming to Ballydoyle in February when he was two and sitting on him and he said then that he was very special,