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Continuous and Auguste Rodin set for International challenges

3 minute read

Aidan O'Brien has announced that St Leger hero Continuous will head to the Japan Cup with stablemate Auguste Rodin all set for a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Turf.

CONTINUOUS (purple cap) winning the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster in England.
CONTINUOUS (purple cap) winning the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster in England. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Continuous backed up his St Leger Stakes success with a creditable staying-on fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp at the beginning of the month. Connections had planned a potential bid at the Champion Stakes at Ascot, but a temperature ruled the son of Hearts Cry out of the mile-and-a-quarter contest.

O'Brien, who will be bidding to land the Tokyo feature for the first time, told Racing TV: "We were going to go back for the Champion Stakes with him, but he got a bit of a temperature, so obviously when they get a temperature, you have to medicate them, and when you medicate them, it takes them out of the race,"

"But he's back fine, he's back cantering again, so the plan with him is to go to the Japan Cup [November 26].

"We were delighted with his run in the Arc. Ryan took his time, like he always does with him, and the pace just went a little bit slow in the middle of the race and that was the way it was, but he came home very well.

"Ryan was very happy with him after the run, he said his run was way better than everyone thinks it was, so hopefully we'll go back to the Japan Cup with him.

"It's a race we've never won, and you need a good horse to win it, so it would be great if we could be competitive in it.

"It'll suit him all right because he's a good traveller, he can handle fast and soft ground, it doesn't matter.

"He's got a great mind and he's got a lot of ability that horse – he's probably better than everyone thinks he is."

Stablemate Auguste Rodin is also set for a trip abroad with connections aiming the dual Derby winner at the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

The beautifully-bred son of Deep Impact recorded a third Group 1 success when landing the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and O'Brien reported his colt to be in good form at home.

He added: "That's been the plan for him all the time,"

"He's done great, too. He's had a nice break from Leopardstown and that's probably a break like he's never had, and he's got strong.

"All the team are delighted with him and we're really looking forward to it.

"He's really grown up and he's another horse that didn't get a chance to mature, as we trained him for the Guineas and then on to the Derby, the next Derby and the King George, so it's tough for those baby three-year-olds.

"But we're very happy with him, he's had a nice little run into this and we're looking forward to it."


Racing and Sports

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