Wednesday 16 August 2023
The Aga Khan Studs have today announced the retirement of Classic hero and Champion Three-Year-Old VADENI.
The Prix du Jockey Club and Eclipse Stakes winner, who was also a close second in an epic renewal of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, will head to stud, where he will stand alongside DARIYAN, SIYOUNI and ZARAK for 2024.
Georges Rimaud, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, commented: “We are delighted to have VADENI join the team at Haras de Bonneval, and he will come to stud with a very exciting profile. A Stakes winner at two, he showed a fantastic turn of foot to win the Prix du Jockey Club by a record 5-length margin at three, proved the best of a stellar field in the Eclipse Stakes, and placed in both the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Irish Champion Stakes.
"He showed a great constitution and temperament that enabled him to perform with distinction at the highest level not just in France but also in Ireland and the UK.
“He is everything you would want in a racehorse – precocious, fast, sound and consistent, and a dual Group 1 winner. After two busy seasons, he ran a great race to come second in the Arc in testing conditions on his first try at 12 furlongs, and it possibly took more out of him than we thought. We have therefore taken the decision to retire him now and focus on the next chapter ahead of him.
“Like SIYOUNI, he hails from a prolific Lagardère family that consistently produces good horses, and he is bred on the successful cross of Galileo and Monsun - so he boasts an excellent pedigree to go with his race record.”
The details his stud fee will be announced in the near future.