Coral-Eclipse News: French Derby winner Vadeni heads super six for Sandown
Jean-Claude Rouget's Prix du Jockey Club victor Vadeni goes to the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday, July 2 as favourite. Six classy runners should go to post.
Jean-Claude Rouget's Prix du Jockey Club victor Vadeni headlines a field of six in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday, July 2.
Vadeni tops the betting and is joined at the top of the market by fellow classic winner Native Trail who took the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh in May.
Three-year-old Churchill colt Vadeni, owned by the Aga Khan, is attempting to become the first French winner of the Eclipse since Javelot in 1960.
Charlie Appleby's Native Trail was Europe's top juvenile last season and despite being held by stablemate Coroebus in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas, went one better in the Irish version.
Sir Michael Stoute's useful Bay Bridge is also entered and the veteran trainer will want his charge to perform better than a second in the Prince Of Wales's at Royal Ascot.
Co-owner James Wigan reckons Bay Bridge might have got closer to victory at Ascot with more luck in running.
"Bay Bridge came back from Ascot bouncing and seems to be in rude health. I think the winner there was very cleverly ridden and stole a march on the others.
"I'm not saying we would have won if the race had been run differently, but he was beaten only a length and was still inching closer at the finish. If the race was run again I think we could have been closer still.
"It's probably the best Eclipse we've seen for a while, but he seemed to enjoy Sandown when he won the Brigadier Gerard."
Meanwhile, John and Thady Gosden's Mishriff can't be discounted, being a Juddmonte International winner and collecting over £10 million in prize money so far. Stablemate Lord North also heads to the Eclipse.
Last but not least, classy Newmarket handler William Haggas sends Alenquer, who took the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last time out.
Wow! 🤯
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) June 5, 2022
Vadeni shows a wicked turn of foot, allowing @CSoumillon to showboat in the final stages of the Prix du Jockey Club at @fgchantilly.
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