Vadeni A Hugely Impressive Group 1 Winner For Churchill

Vadeni (3c Churchill - Vaderana, by Monsun) provided Churchill with a first crop Classic success when running out an ultra-impressive winner of the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday.

Successful at Stakes level as a juvenile, Jean-Claude Rouget’s charge came into the French Derby off the back of a stylish win in the Group 3 Prix de Guiche. Partnered by regular rider Christophe Soumillon, the Aga Khan homebred tracked the leaders for much of the way and was travelling much the best of the field as they entered the straight. The bay needed little encouragement to sweep past his rivals two furlongs from home and soon hit the front, quickening clear when asked and was eased down inside the final furlong to score by an effortless five lengths.

Christophe Soumillon’s post-race comments added to the impressive nature of Vadeni’s victory, saying, “I swept past my rivals between the 400 and the 300-metre marks and after one light tap with the whip, he completely took off. It was impressive and I certainly didn't expect what he did there. It was something totally out of the ordinary.”

Jean-Claude Rouget was similarly impressed and said, “He did it in great style and now he'll need to really show us what he's made of because he didn’t just win today, he strolled away with it. It's a few years since I've seen a horse run away with this race and there were good horses in behind.”

On future plans, he added, “For now he'll stay at 2,000 metres. He'll run in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville unless the ground is really heavy, as I think he’s a good-ground horse. Then if things go well the Irish Champion Stakes, which provided me with my best memory of Almanzor (Wootton Bassett).”

Vadeni is one of ten Stakes performers from the first crop of Churchill, who also has a leading contender for the Group 1 German Derby in Queroyal (Churchill), following his win in the Group 3 trial at the end of May.