EPSOM DOWNS 13:30

All 14 ran.

Time: 2m 33.88s Closing Sectional: (3.44f): 38.55s (114.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 117%, Betfair SP 102%

There might not have been a standout contender for the 2023 Derby - this was the first time this century that the favourite went off as big as 4/1 - but that shouldn't be confused with any lack of quality or depth, 6 of the field having won a recognised Derby trial this spring, while a couple of others had won a Group 1 at 2 yrs, though it was one from neither category who looked to have made the decisive move, King of Steel quickening best off a gallop that hadn't been particularly strong, 2 of the Aidan O'Brien-trained colts working their way to the head of affairs but their riders apparently not wanting to turn the race into a searching test of stamina, and it took until well inside the final 1f for Auguste Rodin to get to the leader, that they pulled nearly 5 lengths clear of the third suggesting their efforts are worth viewing as up to scratch for the race without the form, at this stage at least, looking vintage, particularly as a few of the leading contenders on paper appeared unsuited by the track/ground, while the third had to come from a long way back and the fourth met trouble.

AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE) had flopped badly when favourite for the 2000 Guineas, there having been plenty of talk of a potential Triple Crown bid prior to that, but got his career right back on track 4 weeks on, going one better in an Epsom classic that his dam, who had the misfortune of bumping into Enable when odds on for the Oaks, his winning form at 2 yrs coming on soft and heavy ground but looking really well suited by these much firmer conditions (notably fluent mover); waited with, he lacked the initial change of pace that King of Steel found but made steady headway from 3f out, getting to that one in the final 100 yds as the pair of them opened up a big gap on the rest, clearly staying the trip well; by Deep Impact out of a 3-time Group-1-winning Galileo mare, he's commercially very valuable now, so it's perhaps open to some doubt how much more he's seen, though the King George would provide a good opportunity to push his rating up even higher (open to further improvement), and a top-level 1¼m success would only serve to increase his value, so the Irish Champion Stakes could well be on the agenda for the early-autumn, such a test likely to ask even more of him.

KING OF STEEL (USA) was having just the third start of his life having been withdrawn after playing up in his stall ahead of the Dante, the first 2 having come just 10 days apart last October for David Loughnane, and not only did he improve in the region of 30 lb, getting far closer to Auguste Rodin than in the Futurity, but he shaped really well to boot, handling the track/ground surprisingly well for such a big, scopey individual with so little experience, and finding the best turn of foot in a race that hadn't been particularly strongly run, lack of an outing this year perhaps catching him out a shade late on; racing in touch, he was slightly shuffled back behind Dubai Mile around 4f out before making good headway when having to pick his way through under 3f out, quickening to lead over 2f out and going clear briefly only to be collared in the final 100 yds as he and the winner came well clear of the rest; his dam stayed well and he was clearly fully at home over this trip, so the Irish Derby seems an obvious next step, though he'll unlikely have any issue coping with the demands of a top-level 1¼m race too on this evidence, either way looking open to further improvement after just 3 starts.

WHITE BIRCH did best of the quartet that had run in the Dante and emerges with plenty of credit in the circumstances, too, finding himself on the back foot and with loads of ground to make up in the straight after the gallop hadn't been a searching one; awkward leaving stalls, patiently ridden, was still last of all 3f out before steady headway took him into third just inside the final 1f, staying on to the line well in the wake of the first pair; he clearly stayed the trip and is another for whom the Irish Derby looks an obvious next port of call.

SPREWELL (IRE) a ready winner of the Derby Trial at Leopardstown, acquitted himself really well in the circumstances and is better than he could show here, the only horse in the race to meet significant trouble; mid-field, was a touch awkward around Tattenham Corner but was starting to get into it when short of room and hampered under 3f out, losing momentum at a crucial stage and then knocked off kilter again when taking a slight bump from Passenger over 2f out, recovering to make headway over 1f out and keeping on for fourth to suggest this trip is firmly within range; remains capable of better, and connections will no doubt be hoping for better luck in the Irish equivalent.

THE FOXES (IRE) seemed stretched by the 2f longer trip, likely to prove best around 1¼m; stumbled start, raced off the pace, headway under 3f out and briefly got onto winner's tail before hanging left under 2f out and having no extra in the final 1f.

WAIPIRO (IRE) wasn't disgraced from a less-then-ideal position; slowly into stride, raced well off the pace, forced wide from 5f out, took a while to get onto an even keel in straight, headway over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, stayed on.

ARTISTIC STAR (IRE) the only unbeaten runner in the line-up, improved again while looking even better than he could show on the day, ending up much further back than his jockey seemed to want having been in the first half dozen early on; shuffled back quite appreciably after 2f, off pace soon after, still plenty to do home turn and last of all 2f out, best work finish; this experience shouldn't be lost on him and there's better to come.

ADELAIDE RIVER (IRE) overturned Chester Vase form with Arrest on much firmer ground, seeming to fully prove his stamina this time, even if he did only finish mid-pack in the end; led after 2f, joined 5f out, headed over 2f out, one paced.

DUBAI MILE (IRE) had edged out Arrest in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in the autumn and finished just ahead of that one once more, though ninth and tenth represents a disappointing return for both, Dubai Mile unable to build on his encouraging reappearance in the Guineas, not beaten for stamina, perhaps the combination of track and ground not ideal with connections hinting that a return to France could be on the cards now; tracked pace, effort over 3f out, not quicken on inner 2f out.

ARREST (IRE) can have a line put through this run, seeming totally unsuited by the test provided by a good-to-firm-ground Derby; led early with Dettori happy to take a lead after 2f but stuck wide as a result, not quicken well over 2f out, unbalanced soon after and lugged left, faded, not persevered with once held; remains capable of better, and is still as likely a St Leger candidate as any in the field.

SAN ANTONIO (IRE) isn't a certain stayer at 1½m but was beaten by more than the trip, looking ill at ease on the track; slowly into stride, close up after 3f, upsides 5f out, hung right over 2f out, not quicken, dropped away, eased off.

PASSENGER (USA) supplemented after his luckless run in the Dante, but had only made his debut 6 weeks prior to this and seemed caught out by his inexperience, though doubts over his suitability to this trip remain; chased leaders, took strong hold, hampered slightly under 3f out, not quicken, dropped away, not persevered with once held; remains open to improvement.

DEAR MY FRIEND had finished only eighth in the Dante and fared no better in the face of an even stiffer task, far from a certain stayer at the trip in any case; slowly into stride, held up, not settle fully, left behind from 3f out, hung left 2f out.

MILITARY ORDER (IRE) looked a leading contender on his Lingfield form but he never looked like emulating his brother Adayar's win in this in 2021, perhaps fast ground on this track not suitable; raced wide, in touch but forced 3-wide, shaken up under 4f out, lugged left under 3f out, left behind quickly, eased 1f out; this clearly wasn't his running and doesn't undo the tremendous progress he'd made this spring, but a regroup and perhaps a short break is required now.