Equine gunning for big prizes

Vital Equine is set to have a second crack at Group One glory following his fine effort in defeat at Longchamp.

The two-year-old colt may have lost his unbeaten record but he put up a creditable display to finish third behind Holy Roman Emperor and Battle Paint in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Sunday.

Already successful at Group Two level in the Champagne Stakes at York, Vital Equine could go for either the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 14 or the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud 15 days later.

“He seems to be fine and it was nice to go there and be competitive,” said trainer Eoghan O’Neill.

“He’ll probably run in the Dewhurst, I’d say, or the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud, one or the other.”