The Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) promises to be a blockbuster show with Economics out to confirm his towering reputation and loosen Aidan O’Brien’s vice like grip on Saturday’s (14 September) Leopardstown Group 1 showpiece.

Last year’s winner Auguste Rodin – the choice of stable jockey Ryan Moore – is one of four O’Brien runners as the master Irish trainer targets a remarkable sixth successive win in the 2000m contest and 13th in total.

In any normal year Auguste Rodin would be a hot favourite, but Economics arrives at the Dublin track primed to finally fulfil the potential he displayed in landing the G2 Dante Stakes (2051m) at York in May.

That six-length romp marked him down as a potential winner of the G1 Derby Stakes (2405m), but trainer William Haggas chose to sidestep the English Classic as he felt his horse needed more time.

Economics booked his ticket for Saturday – his first ever Group 1 contest – with an authoritative success in a Group 2 at Deauville in August.

While evidently exciting, as his jockey Tom Marquand warns, “Economics will have to be every bit as good as we’re all dreaming if he’s to beat a field like this”.

If Economics is to prove the banker all his supporters believe he is then he will have fully deserved his tag of wonder horse.

For the 2024 edition of the Irish Champion Stakes is dripping with quality headed by Auguste Rodin.

He claimed both the Epsom and Irish Derbies last year before proving too strong for Luxembourg in the Irish Champion Stakes before landing the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf (2400m).

Despite being prone to the odd off-day – like last time out in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m) – O’Brien is optimistic after his superstar excelled in a recent gallop.

“He loves fast ground, and his work is very good. His last piece of work was excellent — he showed a lot of zest in it” said O’Brien, who also fields Hans Andersen and G1 Irish Derby (2400m) winner Los Angeles, and last year’s Irish Champion Stakes runner-up Luxembourg.

O’Brien, who is responsible for half of the eight-runner field, is in a position to dictate tactics and Economics’ possible downfall.

Adding a smattering of oriental spice to the contest is the presence of Japan’s Shin Emperor.

Temporarily-based in France as he prepares for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m), Shin Emperor is a fascinating contender, running for the first time since his third in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (2400m) (Japanese Derby) in Tokyo in May.

He warmed up for Saturday’s test with a gallop at Longchamp on Sunday, assistant trainer Yusaku Oka reporting that he took the softer ground in his stride.

“His French pedigree seems to be a help when it comes to him working well on this ground,” he said.

Also in the mix are the talented Ghostwriter, third to City of Troy in the G1 International Stakes (2051m) at York, and sixth that day, Royal Rhyme.

The stage is set for a compelling clash between the potential of Economics and the hard evidence of brilliance represented by Auguste Rodin.