How the big winners of the weekend rate plus two ante-post bets

Mae West famously said that too much of a good thing can be wonderful. I doubt racing fans would be inclined to disagree after a series of stunning big-race winners in recent days.

Emily Upjohn, Soul Sister and Auguste Rodin took it in turns to delight us with the way they pounced from off the pace to triumph in the three Group One races at Epsom’s Derby Festival, and then it was a case of “anything you can do, I can do better” from Ace Impact in Sunday’s record-breaking French Derby.

On a Twitter poll today, we invited fans to vote for which of the quartet had most impressed them. There were more than 2200 replies with Auguste Rodin (35.8%) edging out Emily Upjohn (34.7%) ahead of Ace Impact (18%) and Soul Sister (11.4%).

There's been four dazzling Group 1 winners in recent days. Which impressed you the most? ��

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 5, 2023

Like all headline acts, the quartet left us wanting more, with the tantalising prospect that they might meet at some stage.

Here’s a review of what they achieved, where they might run next, plus a couple of suggested ante-post bets.

EMILY UPJOHN

Age: 4. Races: 7. Wins: 5. Race won: Dahlbury Coronation Cup

The Team Gosden filly had the clock watchers drooling with some sizzling sectional splits in the closing stages. Too keen for her own good on occasions, Frankie Dettori had no issue getting her settled on this occasion and was content to anchor her last of the five runners despite a less than frantic pace.

When he invited her to put her stamp on proceedings – relaying that message with just one tap of the procush - the response was electric. Emily Upjohn clocked 10.52sec in the tenth furlong and then 10.9sec in the eleventh. It swept her several lengths clear and enabled her to win in a time 2.63 secs quicker than the Oaks later on the card.

Her rivals had no response to her burst of pace, with the racefit Westover flattered to reduce her winning margin to a length and three quarters as Dettori was easing up near the finish on a filly who had been absent since her similarly striking win at Ascot in October.

Incidentally, the last of her sex to win the Coronation Cup had been In The Groove in 1991.

The Hardwicke, at Royal Ascot on June 24, and Coral-Eclipse, at Sandown on July 8, were mentioned as possible next ports of call for Emily Upjohn. She’s certainly got the speed to cope with the shorter trip of the latter race, plus it would give her a bit more time to catch her breath and keep her competing at the highest level. It’s clearly where she belongs.

It was also over the Eclipse course and distance that she began last season in such dynamic fashion (won by almost ten lengths) and the daughter of Sea The Stars (he won the Eclipse during his outstanding career) is versatile regards ground.

Barring hiccups, I’d say it is long odds-on she will line up at Sandown and, regardless of the opposition, she will have a great chance of emulating Ghaiyyath, who did the Coronation Cup/Eclipse double in 2020. Emily Upjohn heads the ante-post market at a general 7/2 but will surely be much shorter come the day. She’s 5/1 for the Hardwicke and 8/1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.

SOUL SISTER

Age: 3. Races: 4. Wins: 3. Race won: Betfred Oaks

Her subdued return over 7f at Newbury in late April, when trailing home last of the 12 runners, seems a long while ago now, doesn’t it?

Soul Sister put that reverse behind her with a striking success in the Musidora at York’s Dante Festival and she followed up by coming from last to first in the Oaks.

Her backers would have had a few anxious moments early on as she was wide and a little keen, seeing too much daylight. But Dettori then put on the handbrake and found cover before making a move three out and hitting the front a furlong from home.

A wide-margin success briefly looked on the cards but a combination of her early exploits and Dettori merely keeping her up to her work enabled odds-on favourite Savethelastdance to keep the winning distance to a length and three quarters.

Soul Sister’s only entry over the coming months is the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 22, for which she is quoted at 4/1. It would represent easy pickings, but it would be a big surprise if she dropped to Group Two company after only a short break. Her connections seem much more likely to hit the pause button.

Lady Bamford’s homebred daughter of Frankel would have to be supplemented for the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh on July 22, but it seems an obvious next assignment before possibly the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York on August 24.

The Oaks was a race that favoured speed over stamina and no doubt the wise minds at Ballydoyle will ponder how they can make the Irish Oaks a stiffer examination and expose possible stamina chinks. But provided the ground is good or quicker, it may be a futile exercise.

AUGUSTE RODIN

Age: 3. Races: 6. Wins: 4. Race won: Betfred Derby

I’ll hold my hands up. I couldn’t have him on my mind after his abysmal effort in the 2000 Guineas. Aidan O’Brien had made it plain why he thought he underperformed that day but, quite simply, a different horse turned up at Epsom. “Aidan does things,” said Ryan Moore afterwards. It was a succinct way of summing up the trainer’s genius.

The regally bred colt put up a textbook display – quickly into the bridle, settling beautifully, moving strongly, quickening when asked and showing a willing attitude to overhaul a horse, King Of Steel, who looked about twice his size as they eyeballed each other in the closing stages. A good little un always beats a good big un, so they say. Or in this case a good medium-sized one always beats a good colossal one.

As in the Coronation Cup and Oaks, the Derby was run at fairly steady fractions and it favoured speed over stamina. Auguste Rodin seems blessed with both attributes, so perhaps he wasn’t seen to maximum advantage.He clocked 10.83sec in furlong ten, 10.73 in furlong 11 and the final three furlongs took him a smidgeon over 33sec. They are impressive numbers in a 12-furlong contest.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh on July 2 seems a logical next target, with Betfair and Paddy Power making him 4/6 favourite. It’s difficult to see those he beat at Epsom turning the tables and, in any case, it could be some of the supporting cast are found alternative assignments to avoid him.

O’Brien’s seven Derby winners who had the opportunity to run in the Irish version afterwards all duly did so (the Irish Derby came before the English version the year Serpetine won in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic). Four pulled off the double and Wings Of Eagles might well have been a fifth but for injury.

It would be a surprise if connections instead opted to run him in the Coral-Eclipse (he’s quoted at 6/1) the following week.

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, at Ascot in late July, would be a more obvious first race to take on his elders, who would have to concede up to 11lb to him.

O’Brien’s first Derby winner, Galileo, pulled of the Epsom/Curragh/Ascot treble in 2001. Adayar completed the Derby/King George double in 2021, while Taghrooda (2014) and Enable (2017) won at Ascot having previously landed the Oaks. Enable also landed the Irish Oaks in between.

Looking further ahead, Auguste Rodin is ante-post favourite with all firms for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. William Hill make him a best-priced 7/1.

ACE IMPACT

Age: 3. Races: 4. Wins: 4. Race won: Qatar Prix du Jockey Club

Sunday’s Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) over an extended ten furlongs at Chantilly had three quality acts on the Surrey Downs to follow. But you can easily argue that it produced the most spectacular winner of all in Ace Impact, who made it four wins from as many races in devastating style.

Front-running Big Rock was a hot favourite after four successive commanding wins, gained by an aggregate of almost 18 lengths. For much of the straight, it looked like he was again going to pummel his rivals into submission. He had dragged most of the opposition out of their comfort zones and was still galloping on with relish.

But then the eye was drawn to Ace Impact beginning to devour ground on the outside. He still had about three lengths to find with the leader a furlong out but his momentum was such that he swept past him before surging three-and-a-half lengths clear.

There was an element of Big Rock paddling late on but Marhaba Ya Sanafi, who had previously pipped Greenham winner Isaac Shelby in the French 2000 Guineas, was still another two-and-a-half lengths back in third, with Epictetus (Team Gosden) and Continuous (O’Brien) among those left gasping. That pair had previously not been disgraced in the Dante.

The form all adds up and then, perhaps most significant of all, there is the winning time of 2min 2.63sec to consider. The ground was probably a bit quicker than the official “good” but no French Derby has been run so fast since it was first run over ten furlongs in 2005. It was easily the quickest time on the day – being run more than 4secs quicker (16 lengths) than the good Group Three race for fillies later on the card.

Some will argue Big Rock did too much, too soon, and that Ace Impact benefitted from pouncing off the pace. But the runner-up beat the rest well enough I think it would be churlish not to give Ace Impact maximum credit. He was the only one able to soak up everything the front-runner had to give, and then powered on.

Jean-Claude Rouget said afterwards that the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be the aim, without nominating other summer targets.

With the Arc in mind, it would be no surprise if he now has a break before resurfacing in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano - Haras du Logis Saint-Germain at Deauville in mid-August. Three of Rouget’s previous five French Derby winners have had their next runs in that ten-furlong Group Two contest.

If you’re not voting Ace Impact then you simply didn’t see it

— Coshoo (@Coshooooo) June 5, 2023

A few of our Twitter voters held strong views!

The two exceptions have been Le Havre (2009), who didn’t run again, and Vadeni, who instead lined up (and won) the Coral-Eclipse. It should be noted that the Arc wasn’t being entertained for Vadeni at the time, although he did end up running very well in it.

Ace Impact would himself be a fascinating Eclipse runner – he’s 7/1 with SkyBet – but it just wouldn’t fit the usual pattern of a French horse being specifically targeted at the Arc. In addition, he was unraced at two and has already had four runs this year. Rouget will be keen to get a breather into him, especially after putting in such a big shift.

The mile and a half in the Arc will ask a new question of him but the Cracksman colt gives every encouragement that he will stay, plus he's proven on a range of ground. SkyBet make him 9/1 and that will do for me.

Suggested ante-post bets

Emily Upjohn at a general 7/2 for the Coral-Eclipse

Ace Impact at 9/1 for the Arc with Sky Bet

Above pair in a Trixie with Auguste Rodin (4/6) to win the Irish Derby