Japan’s love of Deep Affect is generational.
The connections of Auguste Rodin , a 4-year-old son of Deep Affect, have witnessed this love first-hand within the days and weeks since saying plans to level the 2023 Epsom Derby (G1)/Irish Derby (G1) winner to the Nov. 24 Japan Cup (G1) for his ultimate profession begin.
Honored that the Coolmore-affiliated homeowners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Westerberg will begin the six-time grade 1/group 1 winner within the Japan Cup, the Japan Racing Affiliation has deliberate a celebration of Auguste Rodin—win or lose—throughout Sunday’s card at Tokyo Racecourse.
“I feel it’s extremely particular,” mentioned coach Aidan O’Brien. “Clearly we would not have anticipated it, however we actually recognize it.Â
“We’re actually amazed how respectful the Japanese public are of Auguste Rodin, and clearly he is by Deep Affect, which makes him very particular. So we actually recognize it and we really feel very privileged and grateful to everyone for doing this and placing it on. Everybody’s been so appreciative of him coming down and competing.”
Aidan O’Brien on the Japan Cup Pre-race Press Convention
Throughout his racing profession, Deep Affect earned Japan’s Horse of the Yr honor in 2005 and 2006 as he swept the nation’s Triple Crown at 3 and gained the Japan Cup at 4. The son of twin traditional winner Sunday Silence went on to complete as Japan’s main sire seven occasions earlier than his demise in 2019. Now his son Auguste Rodin, winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T), will strive for a grade 1/group 1 victory on a 3rd continent in a race gained by his sire. Â
Coolmore loved some success sending its mares, particularly daughters of Galileo, to Deep Affect in Japan. Included in that particular group are Auguste Rodin, out of Rhododendron, in addition to Snowfall , out of Finest In The World, and Saxon Warrior , out of Possibly. Auguste Rodin could be foaled in Eire, Snowfall and Saxon Warrior had been foaled in Japan. All three would earn traditional success as Snowfall swept the 2021 English Oaks (G1) and Irish Oaks (G1) whereas Saxon Warrior captured the 2018 Two Thousand Guineas (G1).
“Clearly, Deep Affect was an unbelievable horse. I haven’t got to inform everyone about him,” O’Brien mentioned. “We by no means actually bought Deep Impacts till his final three or 4 years at stud. We want we had possibly gotten there earlier than then.”
O’Brien famous that when John and Susan Magnier and different Coolmore-affiliated homeowners determined to ship Galileo mares to Japan, it raised some eyebrows.
“We thought it was just a little bit unusual on the time, however clearly we all know why now,” O’Brien mentioned. “Deep Affect was top-of-the-line stallions on the planet ever. Clearly as his profession went on at stud, we knew that he was very particular. We did not absolutely understand it till we bought some Deep Impacts to coach. We solely bought a really small variety of them, however they had been traditional winner after traditional winner. We knew that they had been very totally different. They’d nice cruise—an excellent capability to journey via a race—and actually may quicken and had a great deal of personalities as properly. So we knew after having the primary few that he was very particular.”
