Matt Chapman: My view on THAT Irish Derby ride, Auguste Rodin and the surprise stars of this Flat season

JAMIE SPENCER and Neil Callan banging in big race victories left, right and centre – few predicted that this Flat season but I’m enjoying it.

It’s certainly been refreshing to have a break from Frankie Dettori mania, which has already become a bit of a slog as a year long farewell was always going to be.

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It’s been great to see Callan in such brilliant form in the saddle[/caption]

Frankie has been great for the game, but every big meeting being a tribute to him has its limitations.

There’s only so much you can say and it has now all been said.

Spencer has long been one of the great horsemen, although his way of doing things – often from off the pace – has left punters infuriated over the years.

Oddly those backers never consider one or two things.

Firstly, Spencer is brilliant from the front, suggesting there has to be more to his pigeon-holed reputation than meets the eye.

Indeed, it should get us all thinking that perhaps Spencer – without doubt a man with a racing clock in his brain – actually gets the best out of most of his charges.

That statement won’t be popular on social media where you are the devil incarnate if you ever defend Spencer.

Spencer has burst back on the scene in recent weeks, landing the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Khaadem and the Group 1 Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh aboard Via Sistina.

Prior to Khaadem, Spencer’s previous Group 1 victory was Danceteria in Germany back in 2019.

For a rider of Spencer’s class that’s a long time between Group 1 drinks.

What it tells us is class is permanent, but opportunity is what it’s all about for those riders who are not always in fashion.

Callan has, of course, spent recent years in Hong Kong, but the outspoken character seems better than ever in the saddle and last year banged in Fonteyn in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes before his wins on Triple Time in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and then Calling the Wind in the Northumberland Plate.

Callan speaks out publicly – and privately to stewards so it appears from his Hong Kong exit – about issues in racing and is one of the few to do that. All credit to him.

I’m sure he annoys some of his colleagues intensely, but he’s mixing with a lot of people who never stand up for themselves and I’m pleased Callan has the ‘balls’ to do so.

It’s good to have a couple of riders away from the regulars doing well. Keep it up lads.

On Saturday I called for Auguste Rodin to do something special in yesterday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and he got the job done but I have to say he didn’t blow me away.

We are still waiting for a horse in Europe to do something truly special this Flat season, but hopefully that might come in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown.

That all said, Auguste Rodin has now won two Derbys after his flop in the 2000 Guineas and he’s clearly top class.

It will be interesting to see which route they go with him as he stays well and might easily land a St Leger.

However, from a stallion point of view that might be the last thing Coolmore want. Time will tell.

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Auguste Rodin was workmanlike in winning the Irish Derby[/caption]

In general terms there seems little place for the Irish derby any more. With Coolmore more than likely to win it most years it has become a pointless race, and there seems little appetite for a French raider since their distance of the Prix du Jockey Club was reduced in distance.

In basic terms it’s a race that lacks any interest to most normal racegoers.

It’s not really anyone’s fault, just the way middle distance racing has gone.

Moving forward the rematch of Auguste Rodin with King of Steel will be eagerly awaited. The Epsom runner-up did well at Royal Ascot and might have much more to give.

One of the talking points in the Irish Derby came with the ride on runner-up Adelaide River.

There is no doubt if Adelaide River had been the odds on favourite ridden by Ryan Moore he would have got a harder ride between the 2f pole and 1f pole.

After the 1f pole the head on clearly shows Moore shut the door as best he could on Seamie Heffernan.

People on Twitter won’t be happy unless you say it was a disgrace and Heffernan should be banned for life. Such is the world of social media.

It won’t placate those people that I think the best horse won and the second best horse finished second.

However Heffernan should have done more, for all he broke no rules, and if he had done so the race would have been much more exciting.

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