Vadeni remained unbeaten for the Aga Khan silks. The Aga Khan Studs’ Sea The Stars enjoyed a prolific weekend in the UK and France with a Group treble signed by Stradivarius, Raabihah and exciting juvenile Reach For The Moon.

Champion stayer Stradivarius set the ball rolling on Friday at York, as the popular seven-year-old demonstrated that he still retains his talent and enthusiasm with a battling success in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup. Owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen, the son of Sea The Stars was winning his 18th career victory and these include a trio of Ascot Gold Cups. Trainer John Gosden indicated that Stradivarius is now likely to be aimed towards the Doncaster Cup and the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot, although a tilt at the Group 1 Prix Cadran is possible if the ground is not too testing.

HM The Queen has a potential Classic contender for next season in the form of Reach For The Moon, a son of Sea The Stars who impressed when galloping four lengths clear of the field to secure the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown. A close second in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, Reach For The Moon has now won his last two races by a total of eight lengths and John and Thady Gosden’s charge holds entries in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère.

At Deauville on Sunday Raabihah returned to winning ways in fine style, lifting the Group 2 Prix de Pomone and setting up a possible second attempt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Fifth in the showpiece event last year and second in the Prix Vermeille, Raabihah appreciated the step back up in trip in the Prix de Pomone after racing over shorter distances earlier this season and trainer Jean-Claude Rouget was delighted by the performance of the Shadwell-owned filly. She is now likely to follow the same autumn route as last season.

Still at Deauville, H.H. the Aga Khan’s silks were carried to Listed victory by the extremely promising Vadeni. On just his second outing, the son of Churchill and grandson of Group 1 winner Vadawina showed inexperience but also an eyecatching turn of foot and he won the Criterium du Fonds Européen de l’Elevage over a mile, following in the footsteps of stablemate, future dual Group winner and Group 1 third Makaloun. Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget commented, “he obviously has a lot of class, I think he’s the real deal and I think he can be a Group 1 horse in time.”

Updated on 23 August 2021.