Auguste Rodin is the first foal of the champion Rhododendron (Galileo), who won three Group 1 races, at two, three and four, with her top-level successes coming in France and England. She was also a Group winner and Group 1-placed in Ireland and Grade 1-placed in the US. Rhododendron is a full sister to Magical, a seven-time Group 1 winner, and to Flying The Flag, a Group 3 winner and now a sire.

Second dam Halfway To Heaven (Pivotal), herself a Group 1 winner, won the Gr.1 Irish 1000 Guineas, the Gr.1 Nassau Stakes and the Gr.1 Sun Chariot Stakes, and became a key broodmare as the dam of Rhododendron, Magical and Flying The Flag.

Third dam Cassandra Go (Indian Ridge) won the King's Stand Stakes, then a Group 2 and now run as the King Charles III Stakes, and the Gr.2 Temple Stakes, and was second in the Gr.1 July Cup. She also produced the dual Group 3 winner Tickled Pink (Invincible Spirit) and Theann (Rock Of Gibraltar), winner of the Gr.3 Summer Stakes. Cassandra Go is a half-sister to the sire Verglas (Highest Honor), who won the Coventry Stakes, then a Group 3, and was placed in the Gr.1 Irish 2000 Guineas.

Tickled Pink is the dam of Victoria Road, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, while Theann produced Photo Call, a dual Grade 1 winner in the US, and Land Force, winner of the Gr.2 Richmond Stakes and now a sire.

Rhododendron has a yearling colt by Dubawi and produced another colt by the same sire in March.