Dual Group 1 winner Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), who ran second in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday, will remain in training at four and aim to go one better in the ParisLongchamp showpiece next October, owner/breeder The Aga Khan's Racing Manager Georges Rimaud revealed on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast. A winner of the G3 Prix de Guiche in May, the bay claimed the G1 Prix du Jockey Club on June 5 and doubled up at the highest level in the Eclipse S. against his elders at Sandown in July. A close third in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 10, the colt ran on bravely to take second by a half-length in the Arc on Oct. 2.
Rimaud told Nick Luck, “We felt he was unlucky in the Irish Champion and he was beaten in the Arc in very deep ground, so we felt he needed to get another chance in it.
“He answered all the questions–he can stay and he doesn't mind the ground–so we felt the right thing to do was give him another chance next year.
“I think it's the right decision. I think the horse will strengthen more and I think he will have a very good year next year.
“We will probably start with a race in France–the Prix Ganay or something like that. Then we could maybe aim for the [G1] Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot and then see how we bring him to the Irish Champion and then the Arc, something of that nature with all the variations in between.
“It all depends really what other horses will be running next year and how the horse is. There's a lot of ifs and buts during a horse's career, but the trainer mentioned those races on Sunday.”
Added trainer Jean-Claude Rouget of Vadeni and his fourth-place finisher and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano victor Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), to PA Media, “They have come back very well and now they will have a quiet winter.
“They will both come back as 4-year-olds and we will run three or four times before the Arc.
“They will start late in the season, not before May. With Vadeni we will try and win at Ascot first in the Prince of Wales's S.
“The ground was a little soft [at ParisLongchamp] for Al Hakeem, I think he will win a Group 1 next year. It was a monsoon and Vadeni handled it no problem. I hope they both improve as 4-year-olds.”
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