2023 Epsom Derby: Aiden O’Brien eyes the Triple Crown

Auguste Rodin, trained by O’Brien, is favourite for the Epsom Derby which could lead to a triple crown

There are just 4 weeks to go before the 2023 Epsom Derby takes centre stage at the Epsom Downs Racecourse, with history set to be made once more. The Derby itself gets underway at an earlier time of 13:30 after it was rescheduled with the FA Cup Final set to take place at Wembley Stadium on the same day.

The winner of the most recent Derby in 2022 was Desert Crown who, ridden by jockey Richard Kingscote, fended off competition from Hoo Ya Mal and Westover who had to settle for 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.

Whilst there are numerous horses that are seen to have a chance to win one of the sport’s most prestigious races, it is Auguste Rodin, trained by Aiden O’Brien, who is seen as the current favourite to be the latest winner of the Derby in 2023.

O’Brien is no stranger to success in the Derby at Epsom, having won it 8 times so far in his illustrious career. His first Derby victory as trainer came with Galileo in 2001, with his 7 further wins coming with High Chaparral (2002), Camelot (2012), Ruler of the World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings of Eagles (2017), Anthony Van Dyck (2019) and Serpentine in 2020.

It is no surprise that his horse for Epsom this year, Auguste Rodin, is the favourite to win the 2023 Derby at Epsom.

Auguste Rodin has won three of the last four races. After coming 2^nd in the Ryans Cleaning Waste and Recycling Irish IBF at Curragh in June 2022, three consecutive race victories were then secured.

The first was at Naas, where Seamie Heffernan was able to fend off competition from the likes of Shadowed and Young Ireland to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Following this victory at Naas, Auguste Rodin finished ahead of Caroline Street and Alder to win the Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.

A win in the Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster followed as the third win in a row. Jockey Ryan Moore was able to guide Auguste Rodin to victory ahead of Epictetus and Holloway Boy in October 2022.

Aiden O’Brien has come close to a triple crown before, in 2012. After Camelot won the 2000 Guineas Stakes and the 2012 Derby, O’Brien’s hopes of the prestigious honour of winning a triple crown were enhanced and was hopeful ahead of that year’s St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse.

Unfortunately, Camelot and O’Brien lost out on the win and indeed the triple crown in the Leger when Encke secured victory.

There is optimism ahead of the 2023 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse on 6^th May, where Auguste Rodin is also seen as the favourite. Victory here and in the Derby would go a long way to earning the triple crown.

If Aiden O’Brien did win the triple crown, he would be the first to do so since Nijinsky, trained by the legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien, who did just that all the way back in 1970.

The 2023 Epsom Derby is rapidly approaching, and anticipation will only grow in the coming weeks with this year’s winner set to be decided.

Be sure to revisit our website for updates ahead of the Derby at Epsom, we will keep you up to date with news of the runners and riders as we approach the big day. If you are looking to attend the Derby, there is no better way to enjoy all of the action at the 2023 Epsom Derby in some style with one of our VIP Hospitality Packages. Make your experience even more memorable with Eventmasters.