10 May 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
May 10, 2022, Chantilly Racecourse (Oise). - A year after Makaloun (Bated Breath), another Aga Khan studs graduate, Vadeni (Churchill), wins the Prix de Guiche (Gr3). This 9-furlong race aiming at the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) helped classic performers such as Lawman or Almanzor, for example.
Led by the Aga Khan pacemaker Kotari (Nathaniel), the pace was strong enough and helped closers such as the evens favourite Vadeni. Fifth going off the bend, he went ahead with style and won by two and a half lengths, leading Machete (Myboycharlie), who ran a bit green behind him but finished well in the final 100 yards for second place. Implementation (Constitution) took over early in the straight and stayed on for third. The final time of 1’51 is the best in the race since 2018, when Intellogent (Intello) was on his way to a 4th place in the Jockey Club, a few months before his Prix Jean Prat (Gr1) win.
It was a 7th victory in the race for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, the fourth with an Aga Khan-bred. Vadeni, entered in all the classics, is by the Coolmore sire Churchill (Galileo).
He's probably the best foal out of Vaderana (Monsun), who has already given two black-type performers in Vadsena (Makfi) and Vadiyann (Footstepsinthesand). Her dam is Vadawina (Unfuwain), a Prix Saint Alary (Gr1) winner by 4 lengths whose short racing career was completed by a fine one at stud, where she gave 5 good winners, including the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr2) winner Vadamar (Dalakhani), Vedouma (Dalakhani) and The Pentagon (Galileo).
This fine bloodline leads to Vazira (Sea the Stars), another Prix Saint Alary (Gr1) graduate, and the French 1,000 Guineas second Veda (Dansili).
The winner's sister Vardana (Awtad) was sold for €80,000 to Horizon Bloodstock Limited at the 2021 Arqana Breeding sale.