First G1 Winner for Churchill

A homebred for the Aga Khan, exciting colt Vadeni (3c Churchill x Vaderana, by Monsun) has always looked to be a star in the making and he delivered on potential when scoring a commanding five length win at Chantilly on Sunday in the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (2100m).

A Listed winner last season at two, Vadeni was a last start winner of the Group III Prix de Guiche (1800m) and took confidence from that win to step up to Group I company.

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, the son of Churchill made the race into a procession, powering away under Christophe Soumillon to win as he pleased with the race favourite Modern Games a distant third .

Vadeni has four wins from six starts and holds entries for multiple Group I races including the Arc.

“I've always liked Vadeni and he was very impressive even on his debut at La Teste. He's just taken off there and it's a fair few years since I've seen that in the Jockey Club,” said Jean-Claude Rouget.

“He'll probably go to the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and then if he's well for the Irish Champion Stakes. Almanzor winning there is one of my best memories. Above all I think he is a good ground horse.”

Vadeni is a half-brother to two stakes-placed horses and is the best of five winners from winning Monsun mare Vaderana, a half-sister to Group winners Vadamar and The Pentagon from Group I winner Vadawina.

Vadeni becomes the first Group I winner for Churchill and is one of five stakes-winners by the champion son of Galileo.

Standing in Australia this spring at a fee of $22,000, Churchill has left promising Sydney metro winners Robusto and Conqueror from his first Australian crop of 2YO’s.