Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Vadeni reroutes ParisLongchamp instead of Ascot Champions Day with ground key | Racing news
Vadeni is set to run in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with the Coral-Eclipse winner’s connections appearing to have a change of heart.
Beloved for the bold innovation of the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on his last run, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained pony finished in an unlucky third place against favorite Luxembourg at Arc.
His Chantilly-based handler initially removed Vadeni from a crack at Sunday’s ParisLongchamp feature the following week in reverse.
But Churchill’s Aga Khan-owned son, who has won five of his eight races, including two at the top level, can now try the mile-and-a-half-mile trek for the first time. first, instead of stopping over 10 kilns for Qipco Champion Stakes in Ascot – providing ground is still in his favor.
Georges Rimaud, Aga Khan’s stud manager in France, said: “All right, Vadeni will be running at the Arc next weekend.
“We feel the forecast is better for France at the moment than the general forecast for the meeting in Ascot, so we basically chose to go for better ground.
“Hopefully the ground will be suitable in Paris because that’s an important factor for this horse. It doesn’t need to be that good, but it doesn’t need to be too slow, deep or challenging either. “
When asked last week whether confirmation last week that the undefeated Baaeed would end his career in Champion Stakes and not the Arc had an impact on the decision, Rimaud added: “In making these decisions, you put all the factors on the scale.
Christophe Soumillon celebrates after winning Coral-Eclipse over Vadeni
“Baaeed not running in the Arc was discussed, but that’s not a primary concern. We really felt this horse needed the right ground and felt it was more likely to have what it needed. in Paris than in Ascot. It depends on the forecast and things can change.”
Rimaud also seemed confident that stepping on the ride wouldn’t be a problem.
He said: “We will find out within a day about the distance, but we feel that with his pedigree and his dam being Monsun’s, and his lordship being Galileo’s, there is no degree There’s no evidence that he can’t stay.
“We felt he performed very well for a mile and a half, but we were happy to try (a mile and a half).
“I assume the Arc is normally open. There are a lot of horses running in it and how the race goes is very important to each horse, so it will open as soon as they start.
“Vadeni isn’t traveling, he’s at home and we’ll give it a try.”
