Vadeni Outsmarts Modern Games in Prix du Jockey Club

Vadeni  routed his rivals under a confident Christophe Soumillon to win the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1) June 5 at Chantilly Racecourse, providing trainer Jean-Claude Rouget with his fifth win in the race.

The impressive winner was priced up at 8-1 for the Arc by Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook.

The Charlie Appleby-trained favorite, Modern Games , broke smartly and managed to get across from his wide draw to lead the field, but he faced pace pressure throughout, and those early exertions ultimately told, with Vadeni cruising up on the outside and settling the race in a matter of strides.

Of his eased-down, five-length winner, Rouget said: "I've always liked this horse and he was very impressive even on his debut at La Teste. He's just taken off there, and it's a fair few years since I've seen that in the Jockey Club.

"He'll probably go to the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, and then if he's well, for the Irish Champion Stakes. Almanzor  winning there is one of my best memories. Above all, I think he is a good-ground horse."

The James Ferguson-trained El Bodegon (IRE) rallied bravely to finish second ahead of Modern Games, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Ivy League  and The Acropolis  finishing down the field.

"I've never been so happy to come second," Ferguson said. "All credit to the winner, he's a fantastic racehorse and won very well.

"We've beaten everyone else, he wears his heart on his sleeve and was given a good ride. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in the future." 

Despite defeat, Appleby was upbeat on Modern Games, with a campaign in the U.S. likely and the Belmont Derby and Saratoga Derby among options.

Appleby said: "I'm pleased, we did what we wanted to do, go out there and do the fractions we wanted.

"Modern Games just didn't go through the line, the winner won well but we couldn't hold on for second. We'll come back slightly in trip on quicker ground."