Royal Ascot 2024 results: Auguste Rodin, Illinois, Running Lion win on day two

Auguste Rodin triumphed at Royal Ascot under Ryan Moore to give trainer Aidan O’Brien his 400th top-level Group or Grade One win on the Flat.

The 13-8 favourite, winner of the English and Irish Derbys last year, held off French challengers Zarakem and Horizon Dore to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

After an earlier victory with Illinois, it sealed a double for O’Brien and Moore – who has equalled Frankie Dettori’s mark of 81 winners at the meeting.

Moore and Dettori are the leading active jockeys at the Ascot fixture, while the late Lester Piggott holds the all-time record of 116 victories.

It was a sixth Group One success for Auguste Rodin, who claimed Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup wins last season but also suffered lacklustre defeats in the 2,000 Guineas and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

“He’s a fantastic horse. A few times it hasn’t happened, but there were reasons every time,” said Moore.

O’Brien said Moore’s positive tactics helped Auguste Rodin, adding: “Honestly, I feel the blips were my fault, the instructions were wrong, and it was time to start getting it right.”

Second favourite Inspiral started slowly and finished sixth.