French Derby Winner Vadeni Enters Coral-Eclipse Line Up

Impressive Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1) winner Vadeni  has been added to a potentially star-studded line-up for the July 2 Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown and is one of five group 1 winners to go forward after Monday's confirmation and supplementary stages.

The top six in the market have all stood their ground and are among 11 runners in contention, with Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) hero Native Trail  set to step up to a mile and a quarter for the first time.

Jean-Claude Rouget and the Aga Khan confirmed Vadeni's Eclipse participation to the Racing Post after he came through his final piece of work on Monday morning in Deauville.

A five-length winner of the French Derby at the start of the month, Vadeni was supplemented at a cost of £50,000.

"Everything is on track with Vadeni, who worked well this morning," said Georges Rimaud, racing and stud manager to the Aga Khan. "It wasn't an extravagant piece of work because he is already in top form and didn't need anything too searching.

"But the gallop went well and Jean-Claude Rouget is satisfied with the horse. He has been supplemented this morning as per the plan."

The homebred son of Churchill  was well-supported when news that he was likely to head to Sandown emerged a little over a week ago and he is 9-4 favorite with sponsors Coral.

Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper described the decision to pitch Vadeni in against a talented classic crop as well as top older horses such as Bay Bridge  and Real World  as "very sporting".

Cooper eased the going at Sandown to good all-round on Monday after two showers totaling four millimeters of rain, although the outlook for the rest of the week is largely dry with the chance of a couple of light, fast-moving showers.

At the same stage last year only five horses were in contention for the Eclipse and Cooper welcomed both the size and quality of the five-day acceptors.

"We can all look at those 11 and anticipate that they might not all run, but hopefully we'd be looking at eight runners and three each-way places," said Cooper, who has overseen every Eclipse going back to 1994.

"The Coral-Eclipse is a race that in terms of make-up and volume will always vary from year to year. Most of the time it doesn't get a huge field, although in Falbrav's year I think we had 15 runners.

"The first thing I always look for, almost regardless of field size, is the three-year-olds taking on their elders and here and now, it ticks that box in spades."

Cooper added: "To have a Classic winner in Native Trail stepping up in trip is great and the French Derby winner was a superb and thrilling story for us when the news broke. It's really very sporting and a decision to be applauded."

Two top-class older horses who have yet to win at the highest level are Bay Bridge, who chased home State Of Rest in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, and Real World, who has twice run into Baaeed  over a mile this season.

Mishriff  is due to make his first start since the Saudi Cup (G1) in February while John and Thady Gosden could also field Lord North , a dual winner of the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) whose blindfold remained stuck over his head for the opening strides of the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) under a luckless Frankie Dettori.

William Haggas remains doubly represented with Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) winner Alenquer  still involved alongside Dubai Honour , who also holds an entry in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) over a mile and a half on Sunday.

Also doubly-entered is High Definition , who pushed Alenquer all the way in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last month before finishing third to Hukum  in the Dahlbury Coronation Cup (G1).