VADENI Lands QREC-sponsored Gr1 Qatar Prix Du Jockey Club
The Gr 1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club sponsored by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) was run at Chantilly on Sunday, June 5th . Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya, Vice Chairman of QREC and Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation, was present and presented the trophies to the winners.
Carrying the prestigious silks of his owner/breeder the Aga Khan, the three-year-old colt Vadeni (Churchill) was spectacular when galloping to a five-length success in the top classic event.
Vadeni signed a magnificent eight success in the race for the Aga Khan, who, prior to Vadeni, last won the race with Darsi in 2006. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, who also sadded Al Hakeem (Siyouni) 4th, Lassaut (Almanzor) 8th and Welwal (Shalaa) 10th in the race, Vadeni was ridden to success by jockey Christophe Soumillon.
Vadeni, who was a fifth Prix du Jockey Club success for Jean-Claude Rouget, made a winning debut at La Teste de Buch last year before winning a Listed race at Deauville a month later. His last run of the year was a third-placed finish at Gr.3 level behind El Bodegon (Kodiac), with whom he reversed the form at Chantilly on Sunday. After his comeback run, Vadeni then won the Gr.3 Prix de Guiche in May and was drawn in the coveted stall two for the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club.
Stepped up to 2,100m, the Christophe Soumillon ridden Vadeni was quickly settled behind early leaders El Bodegon and dual Gr.1 winner Modern Games (Dubawi). With fast early fractions set, little got into the race as Vadeni cruised upsides the early leaders at the 400m pole before clearing away to a five-length success over El Bodegon and Modern Games, who was a short head clear of a staying-on Al Hakeem in fourth.
“We were lucky to have a good draw and Christophe was able to get him into the perfect position”, said Jean-Claude Rouget after the race, I’ve thought since his debut that he is a good horse. He wasn’t a smashing yearling, but he has got better with racing and hopefully will continue to do so throughout the year. I have great memories of Almanzor (Wootton Bassett), who won the Irish Champion Stakes (2016) and we might try to do the same with this one”
Vadeni is out of winning mare Vaderana (Monsun) and is a brother to four winners, including the listed placed pair Vadiyann (Footstepsinthesand) and Vadsena (Makfi). Vaderana is out of Gr.1 winner Vadawina (Unfuwain), dam of seven winners including the Gr.2 winner Vadamar (Dalakhani), Gr.3 winner The Pentagon (Galileo) and the Listed winner Vedouma (Dalakhani).
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club