Auguste Rodin wins English Derby to give trainer O'Brien 9th victory in the classic
Jockey Ryan Moore with Auguste Rodin, ahead of King of Steel ridden by jockey Kevin Stott, wins the Derby at the 2023 Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom, England, Saturday June 3, 2023. Credit: AP/Victoria Jones
EPSOM, England — Top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien won the English Derby for a record-extending ninth time when Auguste Rodin reeled in King Of Steel to win the 244th edition of Britain’s richest flat race on Saturday.
With Ryan Moore in the saddle, Auguste Rodin won by a length and at odds of 9-2 at Epsom Downs.
Auguste Rodin had a disappointing 12th-place finish when sent off as favorite for last month’s 2000 Guineas but bounced back in a longer race at the Derby.
It looked as though 66-1 outsider King Of Steel had pushed into an unassailable lead coming into the final furlong but Auguste Rodin caught him up and ultimately won convincingly. White Birch ran on for third.
Jockey Frankie Dettori, who is retiring this year, was looking to win the classic for the third time but his horse, Arrest, wasn't in contention.
Away from the race, a protester was detained by police after running onto the course.
Nineteen activists were arrested ahead of the Derby based on intelligence received by police officers, regarding plans to disrupt one of the social highlights of the English summer — a race first staged in 1780.
Ryan Moore poses with The Derby Trophy after winning the Derby on Auguste Rodin at the 2023 Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom, England, Saturday June 3, 2023. Credit: AP/David Davies
Animal rights protesters disrupted the Grand National and the Scottish Grand National in April. At the delayed Grand National at Aintree, 118 arrests were made by Merseyside Police.
