Vadawina looks divine
Vadawina threw down the gauntlet to Divine Proportions as she showed a great turn of foot to come from last to first and collect the Group One Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp today.
The Andre Fabre-trained filly franked her claims for a potentially mouthwatering Prix de Diane showdown on June 12 with a four-length demolition of Argentina.
The previously unbeaten Perfect Hedge, who had been supplemented for the race by trainer Nicolas Clement, was a further length and a half adrift in third.
“She did her work really well,” said winning rider Christophe Soumillon. “She is a very, very good filly.
“I wasn’t worried coming into the straight in ast place because she has a superb turn of foot, just like Divine Proportions.”
The Aga Khan’s racing manager Georges Rimaud said he would be consulting with the owner before taking any definitive decision on her target.
“She has matured really well since the Prix Cleopatre and I would think the Diane is the logical option,” he said.
Soumillon and Fabre teamed up again to guide Valixir to an impressive victory in the other Group One on the card, the Prix D’Ispahan.
The Trempolino colt came down the rails to pass long-time leader and Aussie crack horse Elvstroem, who held on gamely for second just a week after finishing fourth in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
Fabre’s other runner Cacique took third in the colours of Prince Khalid Abdullah but Tommy Stack’s Irish raider Tolpuddle was never really involved and finished sixth of the eight runners, while Michael Stoute’s Fort Dignity was seventh having been handy early on under Frankie Dettori.
“He was a lot more relaxed than in his last race,” said Soumillon, referring to the Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month in which he was third. "I thought it was going to be easier but when I got upsides Elvstroem, Valixir stopped momentarily.”
He made it a hat-trick for himself and Fabre a race later as he swooped fastest of all on Art Master to nail Dettori and Byron in the Prix du Palais Royal.
Earlier, France’s champion stayer Westerner stormed to success in the Group Three Prix Vicomtesse Vigier under Olivier Peslier.
He had five lengths to spare over Soumillon’s mount Allez Olive, who just edged out Mark Johnston's Winged D’Argent.
The Michael Jarvis-trained Chester Cup winner Anak Pekan was sixth.
