Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and carrying the colours of the Aga Khan, Vadeni was among the leading three-year-olds in Europe in 2022 when his wins included the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly and G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown. He also filled the runner-up spot behind Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on his final start of the campaign.

Vadeni is set to receive 10 mares from the Aga Khan Studs in his debut season, including Candara (Fr) (Barathea {Ire}), the dam of the Group 1-placed Candarliya (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), as well as the Group 1 winners Ridasiyna (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) and Shareta (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}).

G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein winner Erevann is also set to receive 10 mares from the homebred broodmare band, including the G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk), already the dam of the G1 Prix Ganay winner Dariyan (Fr), who has moved from Haras de Bonneval to Haras du Mont Goubert for 2024.

Over in Ireland, Capital Stud announced on Wednesday that new recruits Castle Star (Ire) and Authorized (Ire) have also had their first mares confirmed in foal.

“We're delighted with how Castle Star has been received and he is proving exceptionally fertile,” Capital Stud's Ger O'Neill said of the G3 Marble Hill S. winner.

“Fast sons of Starspangledbanner at stud are a scarce commodity and one of the few others there has been, The Wow Signal, only sired a handful of foals but managed to get a Classic winner in Coeursamba among them. We're very excited about Castle Star, providing access to the Danehill line which is becoming more and more scarce, and we think he offers tremendous value standing at €5,000.”

Derby winner Authorized–who is perhaps best known as the sire of Tiger Roll (Ire), one of the most famous jumps horses of the modern era–is also reported to have taken everything in his stride as he stands his first season at Capital Stud in 2024, having arrived from Turkey in January.

O'Neill added, “Authorized has settled in great here at Capital Stud. He's a very quiet horse and is lovely to deal with. We had been told he's slow in the shed, and it's taking him about an hour to cover one mare, but he's doing it well. He's getting his mares in foal, that's the most important thing.”

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Meditate Looks For Revenge

Well adrift of Tahiyra in the 1000 Guineas, it will be interesting to see if Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) can get closer than in the Moyglare when she trailed her by 2 1/4 lengths on contrasting ground. Her subsequent success in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf showed how deadly she can be when the surface rides fast and she would not be the first Ballydoyle representative to come from an unplaced effort at Newmarket and return to winning ways in a Curragh equivalent. “Meditate is very classy, has always been very good, and everything has gone very well with her since Newmarket,” O'Brien said. “She didn't have a real clear run through the whole winter into the spring.”

Out Of The Silence

If Tahiyra and Meditate take prominence here, then Moyglare Stud's homebred Eternal Silence (War Front) has a squeak given that she was still a maiden when third behind them in the race named after her owner-breeder's operation. From the Jessie Harrington stable which can do no wrong at present, the daughter of the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Princess Highway (Street Cry {Ire}) has the scope to have progressed markedly in the interim. “It's been a frustrating Spring with Eternal Silence, as she was meant to run in a few maidens but due to going we didn't run her,” Kate Harrington explained. “She goes there in great form. She was a big filly last season and she's really filled her frame out over the winter. She was a good third in the Moyglare last year behind Tahiyra and Meditate, has had a few racecourse gallops and we got there hopeful of a big run.”

Bernick At The Double

Craig Bernick's colours will be carried by both the Fozzy Stack-trained Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify) and You Send Me (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), with the latter in joint-ownership with Cayton Park Stud and Linda Shanahan. She was taking on the older horses and colts when second in the G3 Amethyst S. at Leopardstown earlier this month, so has had an unusual prep but is not far off the principals on ratings.

French Classic Winners Back At The Fore

In the card's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, The Aga Khan's Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) looks to fend off Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in what promises to be a blockbuster. Last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Eclipse S. hero has a run in the G1 Prix Ganay under his belt and unlike that race's third Bay Bridge may prefer this drier ground. “He has, in the past, liked this sort of fast-ish ground so he should be fine,” the owner-breeder's French racing and breeding manager Georges Rimaud said. “The horse is doing well, he has improved from his last race.” At Saint-Cloud, the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. heroine Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is back in the G2 Prix Corrida as she kickstarts a 4-year-old campaign that promises to be a bold one.

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Trained by Paul and Oliver Cole for Mrs. Fitri Hay, the G1 Dewhurst S. runner-up and Guineas third is joined by the Guineas second and fourth Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Galeron (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) respectively. A trio of colts line up from Aidan O'Brien in Age Of Kings (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}).

Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas has attracted a field of 11, with the O'Brien-trained Jackie Oh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was a late supplement, set to join Dower House (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) from Ballydoyle.

Dermot Weld is aiming for consecutive victories in the 1600-metre race and has both Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal) entered.

“We'll make a decision about Tahiyra in the next day or two but she's most likely to run,” Weld said. “It's just like any other horse, you just want to check all the parameters out and if we're happy with everything when the time comes, she runs. And right now, she's most likely to run.

“The same applies with Tarawa. A decision will be made on her, if not tomorrow, then on Thursday but she's quite a possibility to run as well. We're very happy with both fillies.”

Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), who like Weld's fillies, races in the iconic green and red colours of His Highness The Aga Khan, was supplemented to Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup for €45,000.

Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan's racing and breeding manager in France, said of the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt, “There's a logic to going and running in this race, that's why we've chosen this one. Hopefully it will make good sense and he will perform well, I hear there's no rain planned and we're not really worried about the type of ground he is going to run on anyway.

“He has, in the past, liked this sort of fast-ish ground so he should be fine. The horse is doing well, he has improved from his last race. We are hoping for a good run from him, the ground should suit him.”

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In last year's G1 Irish Champion S., it was the Aidan O'Brien trainee Luxembourg who struck first by beating Jean-Claude Rouget's charge over soft ground at Leopardstown on Sept. 10. With even more give in the ground a month later, the Aga Khan colt was second to Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Arc, while the Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor and Smith-owned colt finished seventh.

Aga Khan racing manager Georges Rimaud said “Vadeni is training ok, he is going to run in the Prix Ganay and we'll see from there.”

He added when asked about the rematch, “That is what we are hoping for anyway. I don't know if it will be exciting or what, but it will be interesting.”

Another Aga Khan-owned colt set for his 2023 debut is Vadeni's stablemate Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). The now-4-year-old won four of his five starts when last seen, including a victory in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein during Arc weekend.

“Erevann is the same–he is also doing well,” said Rimaud. “We'll decide soon where we go with him. He'll run over a mile–he's more of a miler, absolutely.

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Biggest influence on your career?
Serving in the commando paratroopers for building my determination. On the horse front it was inspecting Derby sale horses with George Mernagh in Ireland and yearlings with Rogers Beasley in Kentucky.

Favourite racehorse of all time, and why?
Has to be Frankel, not only for his performances but for the great story that it brings to the sport. For Juddmonte's skills of breeding the best and their belief in Sir Henry Cecil's capacity to bounce back in a world where it's easier to swap trainer than find a decent meal in Newmarket!

Who will be champion first-season sire in 2023?
Ask me again in early September.

Greatest race in the world?
Has to be the Arc being the multi-generation contest over testing trip and often ground. Urban Sea's legacy seems to prove it.

If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why?
Ryan Moore on Estimate when reporting to the late Queen after winning the Ascot Gold Cup, the joy that everybody felt that day was beyond explanation.

Emerging talent in the industry (human)?
David Menuisier.

Name a horse TDN should have made a Rising Star, and didn't?
Vadeni (Churchill).

Under-the-radar stallion?
Starspangledbanner.

Friday night treat?
A magnum of Burgundy with Dominic Mahony's finest Pata Negra.

Guilty pleasure outside racing?
That wouldn't be politically correct to reveal…

Race I wish I'd been there for…
The Derby in general.

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The first Shadwell colourbearer to earn the Horse of the Year accolade, the William Haggas trainee added another four Group 1 victories to his pair earned in 2021, posting wins in the Lockinge S., Queen Anne S., Sussex S., and International S. in succession. His only loss in an 11-start career was a fourth-place finish in the G1 Champion S. on QIPCO British Champions Day in October. It was announced on Tuesday that the son of Aghareed (Kingmambo) would stand for £80,000 at Shadwell's Nunnery Stud in 2023.

Also shortlisted for Horse of the Year were G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), quadruple Group 1-winning stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and three-time Group 1-winning sprinter Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). G1 Champion S. hero Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and dual Group 1-winning miler Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) were fellow nominees in the Cartier Older Horse category.

His Highness The Aga Khan's Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) was named the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt on the back of victories in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, G1 Eclipse S., and G3 Prix de Guiche. Runner-up in Alpinista's Arc, the Jean-Claude Rouget trainee was also third in the G1 Irish Champion S. He follows Sinndar (Ire) (Grand Lodge) (2000) and Dalakhani (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) (2003) in earning the 3-year-old colt award for the owner-breeder. This year marked the centennial of The Aga Khan's operation.

Already awarded the title of Cartier 2-Year-Old Filly, Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) became just the third filly to also take the Cartier 3-Year-Old Filly title. The Cheveley Park Stud homebred is in good company, however, as the earlier two winners are none other than Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) in 2005 and Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2016. The John and Thady Gosden-trained bay scored an imperious victory in Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation S., and, after a second-place finish in the G1 Falmouth S., she bounced back with a gritty win in Deauville's G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois.

Kyprios proved unstoppable in the stayers' ranks throughout a six-start 4-year-old season, collecting victories from April through October. Trained by Aidan O'Brien for Moyglare Stud and the Coolmore partners, the chestnut's victory in the Listed Vintage Crop S. kickstarted a tour de force, quickly followed by the G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. a month later. Stepped up to Group 1 company, the colt delivered in the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup S., Irish St. Leger, and the Oct. 1 Prix du Cadran was a 20-length demolition job.

A hardy veteran of the handicap ranks, Highfield Princess proved a revelation when cut back to sprinting trips for owner-breeder John Fairley and trainer John Quinn. In action from February through November, the 5-year-old scored her first group win in the G2 Clipper Logistics S. at York in May, her fifth start of 2022. She earned her first top-drawer tally in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest two starts later at Deauville on Aug. 7, and then added the G1 Nunthorpe S. returned to the Knavesmire and in the Curragh's G1 Flying Five S, in August and September, respectively. Connections opted to try for an international Group 1 four-timer at the Breeders' Cup, but her draw and a rough trip did her no favours, and she was a close fourth.

Part of a legion of Group 1-winning juveniles for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners in 2022, Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) got the nod as the Cartier 2-Year-Old Colt. He won six of his eight starts in a busy 2-year-old campaign which culminated in a two-length victory in the G1 Middle Park S. The Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Westerberg silksbearer also captured the G1 Prix Morny, G2 Prix Robert Papin, G3 Marble Hill S. and the Listed First Flier S. Set for stallion duties at Coolmore Ireland in 2023, he was second by a nostril in the G2 Railway S. en route to championship honours.

Blackbeard's Cartier 2-Year-Old Filly counterpart is Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). The Ralph Beckett-trained filly, owned by Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen, was first or second in all five starts in 2022. After taking the Listed Empress Fillies S. in late June, she was only a half-length back of 'TDN Rising Star' Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. at Newmarket a month later, and returned to winning ways in the G3 Princess Margaret S. at Ascot on July 23. Lezoo defeated subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) No Nay Never) in the G1 Cheveley Park S. back at Newmarket to end her season on a high in September.

The recipient of the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit is owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing of Lanwades Stud. Besides celebrating her homebred Alpinista winning the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Rausing was also the breeder of G1 St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), as well as recent Australian Group 1 winners Zaaki (GB) and Durston (GB). In addition, Rausing serves as an integral figure in the sport's governance and administration, while through her Alborada Trust, she has also provided vital funding for a host of causes in racing and wider society.

Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier UK, said, “We have been fortunate to witness another exceptional year of European horse racing and I am delighted to celebrate an outstanding group of horses at the 32nd Cartier Racing Awards. Baaeed lit up the season with four brilliant victories and he is a worthy recipient of the Cartier Horse of the Year award. We are also thrilled to honour Kirsten Rausing, who has given so much to the industry, with the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit. It is a privilege for Cartier to be able to recognise these champions of the sport and my deepest congratulations go out to all of this year's winners. I would like to extend special thanks to Racing Post, The Daily Telegraph and Sky Sports Racing for their continued support of the awards.”

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Taking the eye throughout as she made easy work of the swiftly-deteriorating conditions under Luke Morris, who had been in action on the all-weather at Wolverhampton the night before, the 10-3 favourite waited with all the learned patience of such a beautifully-nurtured 5-year-old for the quartet in front to feel the pinch. As that inevitably happened, there followed a few glorious moments as she came to embody her owner-breeder's life's labour in this sphere and Sir Mark Prescott's unique art of equine education and care.

Although the homebred had arrived on the lead with Morris sitting motionless, her last 1 1/2 furlongs in front were not without tension as Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) chased her hard to the line along with last year's hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). Despite the sterling efforts of The Aga Khan's Jockey Club and Eclipse hero and Auenquelle's German flagship, this was a result already carved into the precious stone that adorns Prescott's storied Heath House stables. At the line, the mare had bridged a surprising 85-year gap to the last of her age and sex to achieve glory in the famed Corrida, denying Vadeni by half a length and Torquator Tasso by a further neck.

“It's absolutely marvellous and an enormous relief,” Prescott said. “Luke has ridden for us for 11 years and Miss Rausing has had horses with me for 36, so I'm just very lucky. I trained her grandmother and it's hard to think of a better day. You felt she was always going to win, but it was a relief when she got there. It's a wonderful change to have one that can really go and she has been perfect. The race went like a dream. If it hadn't been my horse, I would have thought it was going to win every inch of the way, but when it's your own of course it's a nightmare. I didn't think all that rain would help, but she's never travelled better and has come on with each race.”

Morris added, “Things went lovely and smooth–I had all the confidence in her and she's not put a foot wrong. She is so versatile and so tough and I couldn't believe how well she was going–I had to take her back two out. She dug very deep for me and was very tough when I needed her. This is the pinnacle of my career–there are not many times when I'm teary-eyed, but I was having to hold back the tears today. Sir Mark's had an unbelievable effect on my career and is an unbelievable trainer and person, so I'm honoured to ride for him. Miss Rausing is a very generous lady with what she's done for the sport and I'm very fortunate.”

Alpinista, who started her career with a shot across the bows at Epsom in July 2019, skipped over ground officially described as firm when winning her first black-type race, Salisbury's Listed Upavon Fillies' S., the following August before chasing home Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a week later in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks. Remarkably, her next start was her last defeat as Antonia De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) mastered her in Newmarket's G3 Princess Royal S. a month later and even the biggest dreamer could not have predicted what was to follow.

Foot-perfect through the 2021 G2 Lancashire Oaks and the path of the Grosser Preis von Berlin-Preis von Europa-Grosser Preis Von Bayern Group 1 treble laid down by her second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao), all reasoned knowledge accepted that the grey had probably used up all her career's fortune at that stage. Alpinista knew better, however, and her pursuit of a personal coronation among her incredible dynasty of Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}) grew ever more impatient as she dashed several Arc hopes on her return in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Her next stop back in the Yorkshire Oaks could have been her apex, but now we know that was just a launchpad to this key moment.

While the Arc is no stranger to testing ground and autumnal framing, this edition was really something else with the turf and soil flying from an early stage and many visibly struggling before halfway. As expected, the Japanese wonder Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) was sent forward with Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) predictably on his case and after the first minute of action the order was settled. Rouget's Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) was well placed in third, with Alpinista tracking him and by the time they reached the false straight the conditions had truly separated the haves and the have-nots.

Surprisingly, Vadeni who carried perhaps the greatest stamina doubts into the race and who would arguably not been placed in the line-up had connections been able to foresee the amount of rain in the final minutes of the build-up was the one who came out of the pack with the most gusto. While his progress though the mud was hardly smooth, it was as dynamic as it gets in this kind of terrain and for a brief spell Alpinista looked vulnerable. Soumillon gave his all and Frankie managed to get Torquator Tasso close enough, but the grey had the stars aligned for her and her uncanny streak proved unbreakable.

She has now earned a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November, should connections wish it. The only remaining question is whether the Alpinista story is at an end and both Prescott and Rausing were non-committal afterwards. “Can she go on again? I don't know what Ms. Rausing will do,” the trainer said. There's the [G1] Japan Cup and the [GI] Breeders' Cup [Turf] to consider, so we'll see.”

Her owner-breeder added, “She will come back to our stud next year. As for the Breeders' Cup or the Japan Cup, we want to go home and talk about it.”

Vadeni fully justified the about-turn of connections to take part and Georges Rimaud commented, “We were very pleased with his run and we were obviously beaten by a very good opponent. Christophe had a good run through the whole race and thought he was going to win, but the mare found more. He's proved he stays the trip in soft ground, so we will go away and discuss what will happen in the next few days.”

Jean Claude Rouget said of the runner-up and of Al Hakeem, who clung on for fourth, “I am proud of my two horses–they ran great races, handled the ground and stayed well. It was a deep field with many possible winners and both finished in the first four so it is a very good day. They will come back stronger next year. I am very happy for Sir Mark Prescott–I've known him well for a long time and I just love this man.”

Dettori said of Torquator Tasso, “He finished really strong and ran a super race. The draw didn't help, but it's his style of racing to run on the outer. I thought for a moment I might get to them, but they were too strong for me.”

Ralph Beckett said of the sixth-placed Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), “He ran a good race, he had the perfect position alongside the winner and ran on well in the straight. He was struggling on the ground–you could see that. Hopefully he will come back stronger next year.”

Aidan O'Brien had some unwelcome news about Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who is back on the easy list after a gruelling experience. “Obviously he got stuck in the ground, he pulled a muscle off his near-hip and is sore enough now,” he explained. “Hopefully we can take him home, but he'll be sore for a while. It will heal in time and hopefully we can look forward to next season. I'd say that will almost certainly be it this season.”

Pedigree Notes

Alpinista, who was providing Frankel with his first Arc success, is the first foal out of the Listed Silbernes Band der Ruhr winner Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), whose 3-year-old filly Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}) was second at listed level at Hanover this term. Her aforementioned pathfinder dam Albanova is also responsible for the G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup winner Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), the Listed Stand Cup scorer and G3 Geoffrey Freer S.-placed Alignak (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and the triple French listed winner All At Sea (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). In a twist of fate, the latter is in turn the dam of last month's G1 St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), making it another key period in the distinguished family's history.

The third dam is the Listed Oyster S. winner Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), who also produced Albanova's high-achieving full-sister Alborada (GB) who pulled off her own remarkable feat when capturing back-to-back editions of the G1 Champion S. when it was staged at Newmarket. Among her descendants are the G2 City Of York S. winner Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}). This is also the family of Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who had her own day in the headlines at this venue when winning the G1 Prix Royal-Oak, and the talented G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) also by Alzao, who later produced the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Aussie Rules (Danehill). Alwilda's 2020 colt by Oasis Dream (GB) unfortunately died last year, while she also has a filly foal by Iffraaj {GB).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE-G1, €5,000,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-2, 3yo/up, c/f, 12fT, 2:35.71, vsf.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 128, m, 5, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. €2,857,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Ger & G1SW-Eng, 15-10-2-0, €3,926,843. *1/2 to Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Vadeni (Fr), 125, c, 3, Churchill (Ire)–Vaderana (Fr), by Monsun (Ger). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €1,143,000.
3–Torquator Tasso (Ger), 132, h, 5, Adlerflug (Ger)–Tijuana (Ger), by Toylsome (GB). (€24,000 Ylg '18 BBAGO). O-Gestut Auenquelle; B-Paul H Vandeberg (GER); T-Marcel Weiss. €571,500.
Margins: HF, NK, 2. Odds: 3.40, 7.80, 8.10.
Also Ran: Al Hakeem (GB), Grand Glory (GB), Westover (GB), Luxembourg (Ire), Broome (Ire), Alenquer (Fr), Onesto (Ire), Titleholder (Jpn), Mendocino (Ger), Mishriff (Ire), Stay Foolish (Jpn), Mare Australis (Ire), Sealiway (Fr), Bubble Gift (Fr), Deep Bond (Jpn), Do Deuce (Jpn), Mostahdaf (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

WHAT A MARE! Congratulations @Lanwades, @HeathHouseNkt, @Luke_Morris88 & @AnnabelWillis4!
pic.twitter.com/Uow3of4vuR

— TDN (@theTDN) October 2, 2022

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Perhaps it is a date with Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) that now awaits Luxembourg, who was providing the Westerberg connection with its greatest day. “The plan was always the Guineas, the Derby, the Irish Derby and then a rest before this and then the Arc,” the ultimate target-trainer revealed as he basked in an astounding 11th Irish Champion for his team. “That was the dream and we felt if we could get him back then it would be three races for him–the Curragh, here and the Arc. We went to the Royal Whip when he was ready to do a piece of work, so that was a massive one–you don't usually send a horse to a group race with 20 to 30 per cent of improvement to come. When he did what he did there, we knew we had a chance.”

Luxembourg, who had dazzled with his sectionals on debut at Killarney in July and in The Curragh's G2 Beresford S. in September, had cut a different figure when less flashy in Doncaster's end-of-term examination but was nevertheless able to safeguard his unbeaten record in comfortable fashion. Stumbling leaving the stalls for the 2000 Guineas before it all unravelled on the Rowley Mile, he was still on the heels of the Godolphin pair at the death that day so it was cruel that the public was denied what would have been a clash to remember with Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) at Epsom. After that contemporary had run away with the blue riband, it was remarkable how quickly Ballydoyle's number one was cast from the story.

With his Royal Whip re-entry only a workmanlike one, he had plenty to prove here against a small but stellar cast who all had the jump on him as far as race-hardening goes. As it turned out, what his rivals both the same age and older had in hand in that regard was negated by the obvious class advantage that he possesses and which was only evident as he crossed the line. As expected, his stablemate Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set a demanding pace as he waited along with the French duo, detached just far enough that there was no slackening of the rope. With the 7-4 favourite Vadeni forced to go towards the inside approaching the furlong pole, it was clear that the Aga Khan's star colt was too far adrift from Luxembourg and Onesto's private argument which the Ballydoyle runner won with a decisive final thrust 50 yards out.

“Since the Royal Whip, he's had tough hard graft and has taken it with a smile on his face which is unusual,” O'Brien added. “He was very much on the back foot the minute he got injured, but we knew that what he did in the Guineas meant that he was really good and a little bit different. He is brave too, he had to take it all and he had to fight again today. This is for a lot of people, for Killian who rides him every day, Stephen who rides his lead horse, Derek who looks after him, Jamie who is in charge of him, Wayne who rides him in all his work and Ryan who gave him an incredible ride. We didn't think we'd get him to The Curragh, but we had to push for it and the team made it happen.”

Christophe Soumillon believed that Vadeni's level dipped slightly from the Jockey Club and Eclipse, “I was very confident throughout the race–he was travelling probably a bit keen but not over-racing, just a bit fresh,” he explained. “He gave a little blow as Mishriff came to my outside and then quickened quite well but I'm sure he was not at 100 per cent and the ground is not for him. It is a little bit loose on top and not like it was at Sandown or Chantilly. If I had been able to stay out there and follow Ryan I would have, but I could feel the horse give a little blow and I wanted to give him a bit longer to recover. You still have to respect him, there are big races coming for him and the French Derby formline is there with Onesto running so well. I would probably have finished a bit closer with a clearer run, but I'm sure the winner is a great horse as well.”

Jean-Claude Rouget revealed that there will be no meeting with the winner and Baaeed in Paris for Vadeni. “He was having to do a slalom, like in skiing, so it was quite a good run,” he said. “He was in front of Mishriff like he was last time and we can't win every race. I think he was a bit unlucky, but I think the result is correct with a very strong pace in front. I don't know what the plan is, but not the Arc. Maybe he goes to Ascot [for the Oct. 15 G1 Qipco British Champion S.] if the ground is better.”

Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who was an honest fourth without ever threatening, could be Breeders' Cup-bound according to Prince Faisal's racing manager Ted Voute. “Post-race, John Gosden would like to consider the Breeders' Cup Turf over a mile and a half,” he said. “Colin Keane felt the ground was drying and felt a bit dead, which he wasn't happy on. He finished well, considering. Prince Faisal has said that the Breeders' Cup wasn't out of the question, provided he comes out of the race well.”

Pedigree Notes

Luxembourg, who is one of his sire's 10 group 1 winners and arguably the leader of the pack after this performance, is out of Attire (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who also produced the G2 Mooresbridge S. scorer Leo De Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G3 1000 Guineas Trial-placed Sense Of Style (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). She is a full-sister to the G3 Glorious S. winner Forgotten Voice (Ire) and kin to the G3 Prix de Flore scorer Australie (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who is in turn responsible for the listed winner and G3 Diamond S.-placed Hawke (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) and is the second dam of this year's Listed Churchill S. winner and G3 Tyros S. runner-up Hellsing (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}).

Also connected to the Listed Criterium de Lyon scorer and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon runner-up Private Jet (Fr) (Aussie Rules) and the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or winner and G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis runner-up Princedargent (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), Attire is a granddaughter of the esteemed Wildenstein matriarch Albertine (Fr) (Irish River {Fr}) whose high-class descendants are numerous and include Arcangues and the triple group 1-winning Prix de Diane heroine Aquarelliste (Fr) by Danehill Dancer's sire Danehill (Danzig), who was runner-up to Sakhee when attempting the Arc. Attire's winning 2-year-old full-brother to Luxembourg, Hiawatha (Ire), is well-regarded at Ballydoyle having cost €1.2million at last year's Goffs Orby, while she also has a yearling filly and a filly foal again by Camelot.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Britain
IRISH CHAMPION S.-G1, €1,000,000, Leopardstown, 9-10, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:12.10, sf.
1–LUXEMBOURG (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Camelot (GB)
     1st Dam: Attire (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Asnieres, by Spend a Buck
     3rd Dam: Albertine (Fr), by Irish River (Fr)
(150,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €580,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 6-5-0-1, $936,596. *1/2 to Leo De Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}), GSW-Ire, $156,911. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Onesto (Ire), 129, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Onshore (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire).
'TDN Rising Star'. (185,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; $535,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Diamond Creek Farm (IRE); T-Fabrice Chappet. €200,000.
3–Vadeni (Fr), 129, c, 3, Churchill (Ire)–Vaderana (Fr), by Monsun (Ger).
O-H H Aga Khan; B-Haras De S A Aga Khan SCEA (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €100,000.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 11.00, 1.75.
Also Ran: Mishriff (Ire), Stone Age (Ire), Alenquer (Fr), Broome (Ire).

Luxembourg triumphs in the €1m Irish Champion Stakes! #LICW22 | @LeopardstownRC | @IrishChampsWknd pic.twitter.com/MMWu71XkLM

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 10, 2022

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