The Group I Prix Ganay (2100m) at Longchamp was won last year by Cox Plate hero State of Rest (IRE), who will stand at Newgate this spring, with the 2023 edition of the race run overnight and featuring the return of quality Churchill stallion Vadeni.
A two time Group I winner last year that ended his season with a brave second in the Arc to Alpinista, Vadeni started favourite, but was given an easy time on his seasonal return to finish a close fourth behind quality stayer Iresine.
Trained by Jean-Pierre Gauvin, Iresine was having his second run this year after ending his season with a Group I win in the Prix Royal Oak and finished had to claim his second G1 win by a length and a quarter beating Simca Mille and Bay Bridge.
“The objective now is the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud as long as it's not really fast, although the Parisian tracks rarely are. We could go via the Grand Prix de Chantilly but I'd have no problem with going straight there now Iresine has shown he handles better ground,” said Jean-Pierre Gauvin
“We'll then put him away for the autumn when I'd like to travel him. There is Ascot, he clearly is effective at this trip and it's not so far to go, but I'm most tempted by Hong Kong, perhaps via the Prix du Conseil de Paris.”
Bought by his trainer for just 6,000 euros at the Arqana October Yearling Sale, Iresine has been the saleyard gift that keeps on giving with the six year-old gelding owning the record of 12 wins and four placings from 17 starts.
He is the best of two winners from unplaced Oasis Dream mare Inanga and is one of seven Group I winners among 37 stakes-winners for Monsun stallion Manduro.
The connections of the Aga Khan homebred stallion Vadeni were pleased with his effort and are looking to the future with bigger fish to fry for the son of Churchill, who is headed to Coolmore Australia this spring.
“We'll continue gently on our way. Next up will be the Prix d'Ispahan, where Vadeni could be vulnerable to a true miler. But he has two major objectives, the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Arc. If he wins those, nobody will remember he was beaten here,” said Jean-Claude Rouget.
