Prix du Jockey Club winner Vadeni set to be supplemented for the Coral-Eclipse

Prix du Jockey Club winner Vadeni will be supplemented for next month's Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, connections have told the Racing Post.

Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan's stud and racing manager in France, said the exciting three-year-old will be added to the Group 1 contest on July 2, putting him on a collision course with another Classic winner in Irish 2,000 Guineas victor Native Trail.

Speaking at Chantilly on Sunday, Rimaud said: "It's more than a thought at this stage. It is very likely he will be supplemented for the Eclipse Stakes.

"He may have a little breeze according to what Jean-Claude [Rouget] feels but he is ready and in good form, having taken his run in the Jockey Club very well. Speaking today, it's all systems go."

The son of Churchill showed the benefit of stepping up to middle-distances this spring when building on a fourth-placed effort in the Prix de Fontainebleau over a mile to run out an easy winner of his trial at Chantilly in the Prix de Guiche.

Still little could have prepared even those closest to Vadeni for the way he routed high-class opposition in the Jockey Club a fortnight ago as he ran right away from Group 1 winners El Bodegon and Modern Games to record a five-length success, the widest margin of victory in France's version of the Derby since 2000.

With the Irish Champion Stakes the long-term target, Jean-Claude Rouget initially earmarked the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville as a likely comeback run for Vadeni.

But the form of the horse since the Jockey Club has persuaded both Rouget and the Aga Khan that now is the time to bid for more Group 1 glory in the Eclipse, a race in which Vadeni will benefit from a 10lb weight-for-age allowance over older rivals.

"The idea is to run in the Eclipse Stakes," said Rouget on Sunday. "He's come out of the Jockey Club well and in the end the race in Deauville was less attractive, as we'd have to go back down to Group 2 level.

"The Irish Champion is still the long-term objective. It's early to be taking on the older horses but I think and hope he's the horse to do it."

Vadeni favourite with sponsors

Sponsors Coral have installed Vadeni as their 5-2 favourite for the Eclipse, with Native Trail next in at 11-4.

The firm's David Stevens said: "St Mark's Basilica followed up his Prix du Jockey Club victory with success in the Coral-Eclipse last year, and we make Vadeni favourite to complete the same double following the news that the Aga Khan's colt could be added to the Sandown showpiece."

Vadeni will indeed be bidding to follow the example of St Mark's Basilica, who doubled up at Chantilly and Sandown 12 months ago, while French-trained success in the Eclipse has been rare, with Percy Carter the most recent winner of the race with Javelot in 1960, 12 months after Alec Head sent out Saint Crespin to score for the present Aga Kahn's father Prince Aly Khan.

Coral-Eclipse (July 2, Sandown)

Sponsors: 5-2 Vadeni, 11-4 Native Trail, 4 Mishriff, 5 Bay Bridge, 6 Real World, State Of Rest, 8 Alenquer, 12 Baaeed, Lord North, 14 bar

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