Matt Chapman tips: Why this French superstar can light up Coral Eclipse at Sandown

THE Aga’s ready to cook them in a sizzling Coral-Eclipse at Sundown today. And it’s not before time!

The mega owner’s red and green colours are known to us all, but incredibly the Aga Khan has not had a winner in the UK since Harzand was a brilliant Derby victor in 2016 under the late, great Pat Smullen.

I strongly believe that will change today, however, when channel hopper and facile French Derby hero Vadeni lines up for the Group 1 feature live on ITV.

In every sport the clash between younger generations and established stars is eagerly anticipated. Just look at the – albeit short-lived – interest in Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon.

But in the Sport of Kings it’s more than a passing interest, it’s a need, a pulsating desire fans have in Flat racing to judge the breed. And via Vadeni and Irish 2000 Guineas victor Native Trail this afternoon’s Coral-Eclipse promises to deliver a classic example of the Classic crop taking on their elders.

I adore the Eclipse. And the reason is simple. By the time of the Juddmonte International, York’s equivalent of Sandown’s big race, connections are pretty sure about what type of horse they have on their hands.

But in June for the Eclipse you can have a mix of milers going up in distance, Derby horses coming down in trip, and established mile and a quarter stars. Now that’s cool. 

Ante-post markets on the Group 1 Eclipse suggests the three-year-olds will take centre stage.

St Mark’s Basilica was the latest of the Classic generation to land the showdown in 2021, while other huge three-year-old scorers include Roaring Lion, Golden Horn, Sea the Stars, Hawk Wing, Giant’s Causeway, Dancing Brave, Sadler’s Wells, Wollow and Mill Reef.

Vadeni faces five rivals this afternoon, headed by Mative Trail and Sir Michael Stoute’s Bay Bridge, the mount of Ryan Moore.

There’s no doubt the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained son of Churchill was a super impressive victor at Chantilly last time, coasting five lengths clear of El Bodegon and Breeders’ Cup winner Modern Games.

That was a huge step up under top Belgium Christophe Soumillon, but Vadeni has only raced six times and it was his first attempt at ten furlongs.

He appeared to relish the challenge. Ground and lack of pace might be the dangers today as he’s never raced on faster than good and Alenquer looks the only possibility for a front-running role, but he looks all class in a bid to become the first French-trained victor of the Eclipse since 1960.

It’s a big deal for Rouget, who has never had a runner at Sandown. That said he’s already a fantastic handler, having taken the French Derby on five occasions. Sotsass and Almanzor have been his two stars, respectively winning the Arc and Irish Champion Stakes.

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And like Rouget, the current Aga Khan has never won an Eclipse, although he came very close with Kalanisi who was outbattled by the iron horse Giant’s Causeway.

Native Trail has long looked like a horse gagging for a step up in trip, and the champion juvenile has done little wrong this season, landing the Craven and then chasing home Coroebus in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before his Curragh success.

The son of Oasis Dream certainly races as if he only gets going at the end of a mile, although on breeding he’s not certain to enjoy another two furlongs.

Of the older runners, Bay Bridge is the one I’m not certain about. He was a brilliant winner of the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over course and distance in May, but was no match for State of Rest in a poor renewal of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Al Kazeem was a rarity in doing the Prince of Wales’s/Eclipse double in 2013.

Owner James Wigan said: “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.

“It’s probably the best Eclipse we’ve seen for a while, but he seemed to enjoy Sandown when he won the Brigadier Gerard.” 

What a race. Because Mishriff and Lord North are no mugs either. But let’s hope the Aga is hot!

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