'It's time for him to show us what he can do' - Vadeni primed for Eclipse bid

Connections of French colt Vadeni are hoping his decisive turn of foot could help deliver his country's first Coral-Eclipse win for more than 60 years at Sandown on Saturday.

The Prix du Jockey Club winner, who was supplemented into the £750,000 Group 1 showpiece at a cost of £50,000 on Monday, adds plenty of spice to the contest, for which he is 9-4 favourite with the sponsors.

Owned by the Aga Khan, Vadeni was suited by a strong pace when winning the French Classic by a record five lengths from El Bodegon at Chantilly this month for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan's racing manager, said: “We liked Vadeni’s performance in the French Derby, when he showed a very decisive turn of foot. Personally, that did not surprise me because I knew he had that gear change based on his prior race in the Prix Fontainebleau over a mile where his acceleration drew the best sectional times.”

The last French-trained horse to win the Eclipse was the Javelot in 1960, but not that many have tried since.

Rimaud added: “Obviously, when you have a horse winning the Prix du Jockey Club by a record five lengths it's very satisfying. Going in against the older horses is a task, but it’s an interesting one – it's time for him to show us what he can do.

"We’ll know more on Saturday evening about his autumn campaign, but it’s the only race at the distance at this time which is a Group 1. It will be a challenge, but it’s one we are ready to take on.”

George Rimaud: racing manager to the Aga KhanCredit: Edward Whitaker

Beaten just once in three starts this season, Vadeni enjoyed a gentle workout at Deauville on Monday morning, after which Rimaud had an easy decision to make.

He said: “I sent a message after seeing the horse work on Monday that all the lights were green. He wasn’t asked to do very much, but he did work well and showed a nice action on ground that we would call good, so we decided to go ahead and supplement him as planned."

Vadeni has shown improved form with every step up in trip, but Rimaud reckons he could be at the top of his range at a mile and a quarter. Beyond Saturday, connections are considering the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September for the son of Churchill.

He added: “There seemed to be an assumption after Chantilly that we were perhaps going to go for the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano as a route to the Arc, but we don’t know if he’s made for a mile and a half. He has a lot of speed, so we’re sticking to just short of that.”

On the task of tackling an unfamiliar course but one with a climb to the finish similar to Chantilly, Rimaud added: “Sandown is a different profile of track and we don’t know if he will manage it, but we certainly expect him to handle it as he’s a very well-balanced horse. He has always had a lovely action and doesn’t get concerned by the ground being soft or fast. There is a ten metre rise from the home turn to the winning post at Chantilly, so hopefully that will help.“

The last Aga Khan-owned horse to run in the Eclipse was Diamond Green, who finished an inauspicious last of seven behind Oratorio in 2005 when also partnered by jockey Christophe Soumillon, who is set to continue his association with Vadeni at the weekend.

Coral-Eclipse (3.35 Sandown, Saturday)

Coral: 9-4 Vadeni, 7-2 Native Trail, 4 Bay Bridge, 7 Real World, 8 Alenquer, 10 Stone Age, Mishriff, 14 Lord North, 20 Dubai Honour, 25 Aikhal, 33 High Definition

Read more on the Coral-Eclipse:

Who wins the Coral-Eclipse? Assessing the key contenders for a Sandown stunner

Vadeni joins Native Trail and Mishriff in star-studded Coral-Eclipse line-up

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