Gary Carson: Auguste can shine in September for Aidan O'Brien

Auguste Rodin is already a very valuable stud prospect for Coolmore but adding a top 10-furlong prize to his CV at Leopardstown on Saturday would be a massive boost.

Aidan O’Brien has already worked his magic to prime the son of Deep Impact for the Derby, after a disappointing effort in the 2,000 Guineas, and bids to repeat the trick in the Irish Champion Stakes.

He also comes here under a cloud after a troubling performance in the King George at Ascot in late July, when the three-year-old was eased up a long way from home and walked over the line tailed off.

Obviously that was nowhere near the same horse we saw storming home at Epsom to collar King Of Steel late on with an impressive turn of foot.

Two below-par efforts are a worry but O’Brien has had time to reset him since his last run and is sure to have left no stone unturned. There is nobody better at producing a horse for the big day.

Recent reports have been encouraging and Auguste Rodin has also been very strong in the ante-post markets this week, which is another plus.

King Of Steel was installed as market leader when the betting opened for this race and it will be interesting to see the starting prices.

Roger Varian’s charge is an imposing individual and fared best of the Classic generation when third in the King George behind Hukum.

He could still be improving, given his huge frame, but had the race run to suit him at Epsom, when kicking clear over a furlong out, and couldn’t hold the devastating finish of Auguste Rodin.

If O’Brien has the selection at 100 per cent, his class is fancied to come to the surface again.

It’s a deep renewal of the race with a good cast of older horses in opposition.

Alflaila is the potential improver in the field and it’s a sign of how he is regarded that connections stumped up a supplementary fee to run here. He is still unproven at this level though.

Nashwa ran well when chasing home Mostahdaf in the Juddmonte international last time and is another that has to come into the mix while we also have the one-two from last year in Luxembourg and Onesto.

It’s a strong field and with Auguste Rodin likely to head to stud at the end of the season this is a big day for him.

In the preceding Matron Stakes, it’s hard to oppose the classy Tahiyra in the mile mares’ contest.

The Siyouni filly has looked like the best of her generation over the trip this season with top level victories in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes.

She was a bit undercooked first time up this season when losing out to Mawj in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and a mid-season break would be a slight concern now.

Stablemate Homeless Songs is the danger on paper but has questions to answer having been absent since her comeback run in early April. The tough and consistent Zarinsk could be a bigger danger.

There is a potential star on show in the Group Two Champions Juvenile Stakes in the shape of Diego Velazquez.

He cost £2.4 million as a yearling and started to repay some of that considerable investment when powering clear late on to score in some style on his debut at the Curragh last month.

The half-brother to Broome and Point Lonsdale should improve plenty from that experience and going up in trip now can only help as well.

In the opening Listed Ingabelle Stakes, Scarva handler Natalia Lupini can bag a big winner with Kitty Rose.

The Invincible Army filly looked very smart indeed when winning on her debut at Naas recently and can handle the step up in class now.

SELECTIONS

1.45 Kitty Rose (Dbl)

2.15 Diego Velazquez