VADENI is the confident choice to end 62 years of Coral-Eclipse (3.35) hurt for France by beating five opponents for the clash of the generations at Sandown Park.
It was back in 1960 that Javelot gave veteran Chantilly trainer Percy Carter a third success in the 10-furlong test, although Trepan was disqualified from first place 16 years later after a positive test for caffeine.
But the six-decade wait is about to end, thanks to Prix du Jockey Club hero Vadeni.
Godolphin’s Modern News went off a warm favourite for the Chantilly Classic on the back of his Poule d’Essai des Poulains triumph at Longchamp three weeks earlier.
The Charlie Appleby trainee was left to fight it out with James Ferguson’s El Bodegon for the minor medals as Christophe Soumillon, wearing the cherished silks of the Aga Khan, booted the son of Churchill to an impressive five-length margin.
No horse had won the French Derby by such an extended distance since it was brought back to an extended 10 furlongs in 2005, and the performance persuaded trainer Jean-Claude Rouget to supplement Vadeni for the Eclipse.
With £448,363 up for grabs, the £50,000 spent to add this promising colt to the field looks a good piece of business.
Vadeni and Soumillon will be hard to pass, with Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Native Trail feared most on his first attempt at a mile and a quarter.
The opening Group 3 Coral Charge (1.50) is a good opportunity for RAASEL to continue his upward curve.
Having ended 2021 with five straight scores in handicap company, the Mick Appleby-trained speedster needed his comeback when fifth at Musselburgh in April.
Normal service was resumed at Goodwood next time and Raasel followed a York second to Fine Wine at York’s May meeting with a three-quarter-length call from Dragon Symbol in Haydock Park’s Listed Achilles Stakes last time out.
The formbook tells us that Raasel, picked up by the razor-sharp Horse Watchers at the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale in August 2020, has gone up 35lb from 73 to 108 since starting his winning spree.
And there could yet be more to come.
A step up in class looks well within range for HEREDIA, who should defend her unbeaten record in the Listed Coral Distaff (3.00).
Two from two as a juvenile, Richard Hannon’s Dark Angel filly followed the perfect comeback at York in May with a one-length supremacy in Royal Ascot ’s Sandringham Handicap on her most recent outing.
Now on a British Horseracing Authority rating of 106, Sean Levey’s mount is the best horse in this race – and she’s a long way from the bottom of the barrel.
It’s worth giving a chance to TRAIS FLUORS at generous odds in the Coral Challenge (2.25).
He has embarked on a 12-run losing streak since coming home over course-and-distance for Mick Channon and Silvestre De Sousa in June of last year, but has sunk in the weights as a result – and shouldn’t be written off.
FREE WIND can make up for lost time with a winning return to the fray in the Group 2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks (2.40) at Haydock Park.
The only blemish on the John and Thady Gosden trainee’s three-year-old season came at Newmarket last July.
Free Wind won her four other starts of 2021, including a seven-length margin in the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster in September.
Rab Havlin’s mount escapes a penalty for that romp, and the step back to a mile and a half should not prove a bar to success.
Gaassee is a short-priced favourite for the bet365 Old Newton Cup Handicap (3.15), but the value lies with the Hayley Turner-partnered SECRET SHADOW.
Beaten a neck and half a length in third behind Inchicore at Goodwood last month, Camelot’s daughter is not fully exposed and gets the vote to turn the tables on 2lb better terms.
Unlike Free Wind and Secret Shadow, DOUBLE CHERRY goes up in distance for the bet365 Handicap after a mile-and-a-half score at Goodwood 22 days ago – but the extra yardage is expected to trigger another personal best.
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