'An incredible journey' - Auguste Rodin given post-racing farewell by 15,000 Japanese racing fans

The career of Auguste Rodin was celebrated by 15,000 racing fans who waited two hours after his eighth-placed finish in the Japan Cup to attend a special retirement ceremony at Tokyo.

The 2023 dual Derby hero became the first foreign-trained horse to receive the traditional Japanese racing send-off. He is particularly popular with locals having been sired by the great Deep Impact.

A 20-minute ceremony in front of the grandstand started with a highlights reel of his six Group/Grade 1 victories being displayed on the big screen, before trainer Aidan O'Brien, jockey Ryan Moore and Coolmore's MV and John Magnier and Paul Smith were presented with flowers and interviewed on a plinth in the winner's circle.

Japan Cup report

• 'There was no way he was going to lose' - local heroes Yutaka Take and Do Deuce strike in Japan Cup with Auguste Rodin eighth

Having been paraded in front of the grandstand throughout the show, Auguste Rodin was then walked back to the stables as Auld Lang Syne played over the speakers.

O'Brien, who greeted fans after the ceremony, said: "It's been an incredible journey for us and we're privileged to have him. There's so many people involved and Ryan took him all the way through his career and gave him some unbelievable rides. 

"He showed class from day one; he's got a great mind and is a beautiful mover. We always dreamed he'd end up here for his last run and he retires safe and sound, that's all that matters. I'm so thankful for everyone for putting on a show like this for him and being so respectful."

Auguste Rodin was a top-level winner at two, three and four, and retires to stand his first season at Coolmore Stud in County Tipperary at a fee of €30,000 in 2025. 

In a slowly run Japan Cup he appeared to be struggling on the final bend but stayed on to finish eighth of the 14 runners.

"He's a very important horse, it's two continents meeting with Deep Impact and Galileo," said MV Magnier. "It's perfection and we're lucky to be here. It's incredible how many people are here."

The French-trained King George winner Goliath did best of the overseas raiders in sixth and has the option of heading to Hong Kong next month.

His owner John Stewart posted on X: "We acknowledge there are no excuses. While the pace was slower than anticipated, we expected this outcome. Achieving this level of competition in any sport is a remarkable feat, and we look forward to returning to compete with the strongest horses from around the globe."

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