Eclipse Glory For Churchill’s Vadeni

Delivered by fate to coincide with the centennial year of The Aga Khan's Studs, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) descended on Sandown on Saturday to mark the occasion by providing his owner-breeder with a landmark first G1 Coral-Eclipse S. success. In the kind of tight finale that could comfortably have been predicted given the highly-competitive nature of this year's renewal, the Prix du Jockey Club hero held a fast-diminishing neck margin over the arguably unlucky Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), with the race's other 3-year-old Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) a further head away in third and Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) only half a length behind in a four-way go. “It is always a real challenge coming to England and not easy for us, so this is a good day,” Rouget commented.

While Christophe Soumillon can be commended for his in-race tactics more than for his immediate celebrations which almost led to Lord North being brought down, this much-vaunted Eclipse was run as a typically “French” affair with steady fractions and a two-furlong sprint. Vadeni, who drifted markedly to 11-4 second favouritism as all the money flooded in for the ultimately disappointing 9-4 market-leader Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}), was anchored last of the six early with Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) sent on and Bay Bridge in close attendance. Whether by accident or design, Tom Marquand was not making it a true test on the Haggas runner which played against the slow-starting Mishriff and by the time Vadeni was being primed by Soumillon three out the screw was really being turned.

Strangely, a furlong later Bay Bridge who had been so impressive over this course and distance in the Brigadier Gerard was sending out all the wrong signals and his demise meant that Mishriff was caught between him and Native Trail while Vadeni was enjoying a clear passage being slung-shot down the outer to take command approaching the furlong pole. Having been level with the French raider two out, the Gosdens' international star found himself two lengths adrift with a furlong to run and despite his surge cutting back most of the deficit it was not enough.

Vadeni, who made his debut at La Teste de Buch last July, is also the winner of the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage and G3 Prix de Guiche with tactics probably at play in his defeats in the G3 Prix de Conde and G3 Prix de Fontainebleau. Clearly now a colt come of age, Rouget explained that he had forced their hand to launch this audacious raid. “The horse was very well after the Jockey Club and it was too long to wait until the Irish Champion, he has the action of a good-ground horse and we had confidence in him,” he said. “It was maybe less of a fast pace than usual and everyone had their chance at the top of the straight. We decided to have him behind and not put the horse into the fight too early to preserve his acceleration. It will be the Irish Champion next and then either Ascot [for the Champion S.] or the Arc. We don't know, but for me he is a typical mile and a quarter horse.”

Soumillon, who was later handed a 12-day ban July 16-27 with his celebrations causing Vadeni to lurch towards the rail past the line and create a concertina which almost led to Lord North being brought down, was content that the run of the race put the winner firmly in his comfort zone. “The pace was just fine–for my horse everything was perfect,” he said. “He was really relaxed. He changed legs perfectly everywhere I wanted and when I came out of the turn, the pace picked up and for like 50 or 100 yards he was a bit off the bridle, so I had to give him a chance.”

“When he just went up that small uphill at the two-furlong maker, he just took me on the bridle and changed legs,” he added. “That was at the point where I was thinking 'should I wait a bit more?' but I saw Mishriff on my inside had been completely stopped and I just let him go. That is why I came maybe 50 or 100 yards too early to hit the front and unfortunately maybe 100 yards from the line, he stumbled and lost balance for a few strides so I was asking 'please don't give up, keep going' but he gives you a gear like champions can. When I passed the line I didn't see William and James on my inside and my horse just shifted to take the corner. Unfortunately they had to check both their horses quite badly and like I said to the stewards that is my fault. I shouldn't have first celebrated like that and I should have looked to my inside to make sure I hadn't put them in trouble at that point.”

Thady Gosden said of the G1 Juddmonte International, G1 Saudi Cup and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner, whose run through the race is certain to be the subject of much discussion for some time, “Mishriff has run a great race. He just missed the break and the plan was to follow Bay Bridge, which meant we wound up on the inside. David has done everything right and I am thrilled with the horse. Three-year-olds get a lot of weight at this time of year and so to split two of the star three-year-olds of this season is a great performance. I think we will now be looking at going back to York with him for the Juddmonte International and we could also look at the King George for him. Lord North also ran a good race. He just got squeezed up a bit, but has still run well.”

Charlie Appleby was delighted with Native Trail and said, “William said he had no excuses. He felt he was in the right position and the horse was comfortable throughout the race and over the trip. He said he saw it out, but take nothing away from the winner and the eventual second. That was a strong event and it was always going to be a tight finish. I don't think you were ever going to see a horse win by a couple of lengths. I posed the question 'do we come back to a mile?' but he said he is comfortable at that and I see no reason why we don't stay at a mile and a quarter. That might give him a few more options. Maybe on a slicker track where they go a better gallop it might just suit him.”

Vadeni is the third black-type performer for Vaderana (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) alongside the Australian stakes-placed Vadiyann (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and the four-times listed-placed Vadsena (Fr) (Makfi {GB}). The second dam is the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain), whose progeny include the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris winner Vadamar (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), his Listed Prix Isonomy-winning full-sister Vedouma (Fr) and the G3 Tyros S. winner and G1 Racing Post Trophy-placed The Pentagon (Ire) by Churchill's sire Galileo (Ire).

Vadawina is kin to the fellow Saint-Alary winner Vazira (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the stakes-producing, dual group 3 winner Vadapolina (Fr) (Trempolino) who is also the second dam of the G2 Prix Chaudenay and G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil scorer and G1 Prix Royal-Oak runner-up Valia (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the G3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon scorer Waliyak (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Also connected to the G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Valixir (Ire) (Trempolino), the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp-winning sire Vadamos (Fr) by Vaderana's sire and the Breeders' Cup Mile hero Val Royal (Fr) (Royal Academy), Vaderana's unraced 2-year-old colt by Camelot (GB) is named Vazirpour (GB).

Saturday, Sandown, Britain
CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £790,625, Sandown, 7-2, 3yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:05.20, g/f.
1–VADENI (FR), 125, c, 3, by Churchill (Ire)
     1st Dam: Vaderana (Fr), by Monsun (Ger)
     2nd Dam: Vadawina (Ire), by Unfuwain
     3rd Dam: Vadaza (Fr), by Zafonic
O-H.H. Aga Khan; B-Haras De S.A. Aga Khan S.C.E.A. (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Christophe Soumillon. £448,363. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 7-5-0-1, $1,608,202. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mishriff (Ire), 135, h, 5, Make Believe (GB)–Contradict (GB), by Raven's Pass. O-Prince A. A. Faisal; B-Nawara Stud Limited (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £169,984.
3–Native Trail (GB), 125, c, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)–Needleleaf (GB), by Observatory. (€50,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; 67,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; 210,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Godolphin; B-Le Haras D'Haspel (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £85,071.
Margins: NK, HD, HF. Odds: 2.75, 7.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Lord North (Ire), Bay Bridge (GB), Alenquer (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Invincible Spirit’s Shartash Wins The Railway

It is rare that The Aga Khan's silks are at the forefront this early in the major two-year-old contests, but when they are it is always a good sign and Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Shamreen {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) showed he had the precocity to go with his illustrious pedigree in Saturday's G2 GAIN Railway S. at The Curragh. Kept fresh by Johnny Murtagh following his Naas conditions win May 7, the son of the dual G2 Blandford S. winner was held up early as the Listed First Flier S. and G3 Marble Hill S. winner Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) set off in front. Needing the gaps late on, the 9-1 shot was produced in time by Ben Coen to oust the rallying 5-6 favourite by a short head, with 1 1/4 lengths back to Apache Outlaw (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in third. “This is where these colours should be on Irish Derby weekend and it's my job to get them there,” Murtagh said. “He's a Guineas type of horse to me, he's got that pace.”

The last juvenile that the owner-breeder enjoyed such early-season success with was the great Siyouni (Fr), so Shartash's every move from here on warrants the closest examination. Third on debut behind the subsequent Marble Hill runner-up Tough Talk (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and the Windsor Castle-winning TDN Rising Star Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) over this course and distance Apr. 10, the bay managed to edge out Age of Kings (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) at Naas before being held back from the demands of Royal Ascot. Rewarding that patience, he was able to subdue the more-experienced Blackbeard who was demonstrating his unquenchable appetite for the game by coming back at the line.

“He's improved and got a bit more streetwise–he was always sharp, but now he's relaxing and he showed a very good turn of foot today when he needed it,” Murtagh added. “Ben had to be brave there, but I have great confidence in him and a good horse is usually able to get you out of trouble. He's always had plenty of speed and when I entered him up in April, Pat Downes said 'are you sure?' but I knew that this is a real two-year-old. He's tough and hardy and the Phoenix is the next logical step. Maybe it will be the National Stakes later on–he has to get seven and that is not a guarantee at the moment, but he's starting to do it right now.”

There is no obvious reason why Shartash should not get at least seven furlongs on pedigree, with Shamreen at her best over a mile and a quarter as she showed when garnering her brace of Blandfords and also the G3 Royal Whip S. here. The second dam Shahreen (Ire) (Bahri) captured the G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies' S. and also produced the GIII Singspiel S. winner Shahroze (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), while she is kin to the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. scorer Sharestan (Ire) (Shamardal). From the family of the 1986 Irish Derby hero Shahrastani, Shamreen's second foal and first winner Shartash is followed by a yearling colt by the aforementioned Siyouni.

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
GAIN RAILWAY-G2, €142,800, Curragh, 6-25, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.44, gd.
1–SHARTASH (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
     1st Dam: Shamreen (Ire) (MGSW-Ire, $364,530), by Dubawi (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Shareen (Ire), by Bahri
     3rd Dam: Sharesha (Ire), by Ashkalani (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-H H Aga Khan; B-His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs S.C. (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh; J-Ben Coen. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $91,449. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Blackbeard (Ire), 131, c, 2, No Nay Never–Muirin (Ire), by Born To Sea (Ire). (270,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Newstead Breeding (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €24,000.
3–Apache Outlaw (Ire), 131, c, 2, Churchill (Ire)–Focus of Attention (Ire), by Intense Focus.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£21,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-E & S Racing; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: SHD, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 9.00, 0.83, 22.00.
Also Ran: Age of Kings (Ire), Borletti (Ire), Crispy Cat (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Observations: Daylami’s Relative Debuts at Compeigne

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Insights features a half-brother to G1SW Dolniya.

12.05 Compiegne, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, 8fT
DALMAR (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}) is a notable newcomer, being a half-brother to the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) out of a half-sister to the brilliant Daylami (Ire) and Dalakhani (Ire). Francis-Henri Graffard trains The Aga Khan's chestnut, a G1 Grand Prix de Paris entry whose relatives also include the stable's G3 Prix Quincey winner and G2 Prix du Muguet runner-up Dilawar (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

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Zarkava To Visit Siyouni

Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar), the Aga Khan's unbeaten 2008 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner and the dam of last year's champion French first-season sire Zarak (Fr), will be covered by another Aga Khan superstar, Siyouni (Fr), in 2022. Zarkava has already produced the listed-winning filly Zaykava (Fr) from a mating with Siyouni, and she has a yearling colt by the French champion sire. Zarkava's listed-winning and Group 1-placed daughter Zarkamiya (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) is currently in foal to Siyouni.

Siyouni stands for a second consecutive season for €140,000 at the Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval, and his 2022 book also includes Bob Scarborough's Cabaret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the dam of Siyouni's 2021 Horse of the Year and dual Classic winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr).

Other Aga Khan homebred Group 1 performers or producers booked to Siyouni this season include the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic victress Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}), whose first two foals are stakes performers; Ebiyza (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), the dam of high-class fillies Edisa (Kitten's Joy) and Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor); and the maiden mare Sagamiyra (Fr) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who won the G3 Prix du Pin last year and was second to Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Rothschild.

Outside breeders supporting Siyouni include Wertheimer et Frere, George Strawbridge and Kirsten Rausing, who will collectively send Group 1 winners Solemia (Ire) (Poliglote {GB}), Galikova (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko). Juddmonte will send the dams of Group 1 winners Viadera (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) and Juliet Foxtrot (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Siyouni's 2022 book also includes sisters to Group 1 winners Japan (GB), Mogul (GB), Secret Gesture (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire), Zelzal (Fr), Timepiece (GB), Passage Of Time (GB), Sacred Life (Fr) and National Defense (GB), as well as the dams of Group 1 winners A Raving Beauty (Ger) and Wings Of Eagles (Fr).

Among the mares due to foal to Siyouni this season are Starlet's Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the dam of Siyouni's Arc and Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass (Fr); Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}); Group 1 winners Kitesurf (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) and Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), and Venetia's Dream (Ire), the dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Dream And Do (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}).

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