Tag Archive for: Charyn

Economics and Charyn headline Champions Day fields

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Economics and Charyn are two of the star names still in contention following the second entry stage for the five Group races on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot.

A total of 151 horses have stood their ground across the Champion Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the British Champions Sprint, the Long Distance Cup and the Fillies & Mares Stakes, with several mouthwatering clashes in prospect.

The William Haggas-trained Economics is the likely favourite for the Qipco Champion Stakes as he bids to supplement his victory in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last time out. He may not have things all his own way, however, with French ace Calandagan chief among his likely rivals.

Calandagan in action at York
Calandagan in action at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Aidan O’Brien’s top-class trio of City Of Troy, Los Angeles and Auguste Rodin are also among the 36 horses still in the mix, but all are being readied for alternative targets, namely the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Japan Cup respectively. As expected, King George hero Goliath has been taken out.

Roger Varian’s Charyn will bid to put the seal on his excellent campaign in the QEII, having already struck Group One gold in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. He was only narrowly denied a top-level hat-trick in the Prix du Moulin on his most recent outing.

Varian said: “He’s in great form and Ascot, where he was very good in the Queen Anne, is the plan.

“He’s had a terrific season and it might have been even better, as he was arguably a bit unlucky at Longchamp in the Moulin, but at the start of the year we’d have been very happy to settle for what he’s already achieved.”

A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville
A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville (PA)

Charyn’s potential opponents among a total of 27 remaining entries include last year’s brilliant winner Big Rock (Maurizio Guarnieri), Metropolitan (Mario Baratti) and Notable Speech (Charlie Appleby).

The October 19 card kicks off with the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, in which Kyprios is the star attraction, although he must first come through the Prix du Cadran this weekend.

Last year’s Long Distance Cup hero Trawlerman (John and Thady Gosden) is also among the 26 hopefuls for this season’s renewal, as is his Doncaster Cup-winning stablemate Sweet William and the ever-popular Trueshan (Alan King), who claimed this prize in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The new kid on the staying block is Al Nayyir, who was touched off by Vauban on his first start for Tom Clover in the Lonsdale Cup at York in August and confirmed that was no fluke with a runaway success in the Listed Rose Bowl at Newmarket last week.

“Al Nayyir looks to have come out of his race at Newmarket nicely and he looks great, so all being well we are heading to Champions Day with him,” said Clover.

“Luke Morris had felt after riding work on him before Newmarket that he’d come forward for York, but even so I can’t say I expected him to win in quite the style he did.

“You sometimes get exaggerated distances on that easy ground, but with a smooth run I hope we can have a good crack at the Long Distance Cup.”

Kinross (Ralph Beckett), Mill Stream (Jane Chapple-Hyam) and Montassib (William Haggas) are three of 33 going forward for the Qipco British Champions Sprint.

Montassib returns under Cieren Fallon after winning the Sprint Cup at Haydock
Montassib returns under Cieren Fallon after winning the Sprint Cup at Haydock (PA)

Montassib won the Sprint Cup at Haydock last month, narrowly defeating the James Fanshawe-trained Kind Of Blue, who has since been snapped up by the Wathnan Racing team.

Fanshawe said: “Kind Of Blue has been in good form since his second in the Betfair Sprint Cup and James Doyle came and had a sit on him on Saturday as he’s now owned by Wathnan Racing. The Champions Sprint at Ascot is the plan for him and it’s a race we’ve won before with both Deacon Blues and The Tin Man.

“Kind Of Blue is out of a sister to Deacon Blues and a half-sister to The Tin Man, so he’s their nephew if you like. They were both four-year-olds when they won on Champions Day and Kind Of Blue is only three, but he’s by Blue Point and a big, strong colt. He hopefully has a bright future.”

The Qipco Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes sees 29 remain in contention with high-profile names such as Bluestocking (Ralph Beckett), Kalpana (Andrew Balding), Opera Singer (Aidan O’Brien), Content (Aidan O’Brien) and Emily Upjohn (John and Thady Gosden) all included.



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Tribalist stuns Moulin big guns with all-the-way success

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Mickael Barzalona excelled in the saddle, as he made all aboard the Andre Fabre-trained Tribalist to cause a shock in the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp.

The race was billed as an all-star clash between Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes hero Notable Speech and Roger Varian’s Charyn, who has become one of the leading players at the distance this term.

Aidan O’Brien’s Henry Longfellow was also among the fancied runners, but none of the big guns could land a telling blow as the five-year-old gave Fabre a record-extending eighth victory in the Group One event.

Taking the initiative when leaving the stalls sprightly, Barzalona immediately sent Tribalist – like Notable Speech owned by Godolphin – forward and kept putting the pressure on his rivals throughout the one-mile contest, building up a notable advantage entering the second half of the contest.

With 500 metres to run distress signals were beginning to be shown by those in behind and although Charyn responded gamely to Silvestre de Sousa’s urgings to run on for second, he ran out of turf in his pursuit of the pillar-to-post scorer, who came home with a length and a quarter in hand.

Henry Longfellow was a little further back in third, with Notable Speech only fifth home of the seven.

Fabre told Sky Sports Racing: “It was a fantastic front-running performance, but it was down to Tribalist not the trainer.

“He is just good. Mickael couldn’t do anything else (but what he did), the others let him go.”

When asked if the victory means Tribalist will head to the Prix de la Foret next, Fabre added: “For sure, there is no other option. He could then go to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Varian admitted it was frustrating to see Charyn come so close to bridging the gap to Tribalist in the closing stages, narrowly missing out on becoming the first horse to win the Queen Anne Stakes, Prix Jacques le Marois and Moulin all in the same season.

Charyn was a winner at Royal Ascot earlier in the season
Charyn was a winner at Royal Ascot earlier in the season (John Walton/PA)

He remains Paddy Power’s 5-2 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day and Varian confirmed the son of Dark Angel will return to the scene of his Royal Ascot triumph seeking to finish the season on a high.

“It was a frustrating watch to be honest, but he has run a great race and when you finish second you have to tip your hat to the winner,” said Varian.

“I think hindsight yes (he got a bit far back). They spotted the winner six or seven lengths turning for home which is very hard to do on this ground.

“Watching the race again, the race developed that way, it wasn’t that way in the first furlong and I think it is the wrong thing to jump on the jockey’s back. The race stretched out from halfway, but he has come out of the pack and almost closed the winner down.

Roger Varian will take Charyn back to Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day
Roger Varian will take Charyn back to Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He has run a tremendous race, I don’t think we can be disappointed at all with his performance. Losing a shoe was probably not ideal, but I think on this ground he is probably not even aware he lost a shoe.

“For me it is not an excuse, it’s just frustrating because I think he has run enormous and I think he ran well enough to win the race but didn’t quite. It’s frustrating, but we congratulate the winner and move on.”

Varian added: “We would love to go to Ascot for the QEII, that has always been his autumn goal and it’s six weeks away so plenty of time. As long as he is sound and healthy there is no reason why he won’t go there.”



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‘Complete horse’ Charyn primed for mouthwatering Moulin

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Charyn is raring to go for his all-star clash with 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech, as what Roger Varian describes as the “complete horse” attempts to continue his dream season in the Prix du Moulin.

The four-year-old has enjoyed a stellar campaign winning four of his five starts and confirming himself as one of the leading milers in the world by securing big-race success at both Royal Ascot in the Queen Anne Stakes and at Deauville in the Prix Jacques le Marois.

The son of Dark Angel now faces another stern challenge in the form of Charlie Appleby’s ace and Aidan O’Brien’s Group One-winning juvenile Henry Longfellow, but the Newmarket trainer is relishing the task at hand at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville
A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville (PA)

Varian said: “We’re looking forward to it and we’re enjoying the journey he is taking us on this year.

“The horse seems to be going from strength to strength and you have to look forward to competing in these exciting races and taking on some three-year-olds on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how we do.”

Charyn’s rise to the top of the mile division is somewhat remarkable when you consider that he failed to land a telling blow during his three-year-old campaign.

However, Varian always held plenty of belief in Nurlan Bizakov’s colt and after encouraging signs in the winter were backed up by early-season wins at Doncaster and Sandown, he knew he had a performer who could compete at the highest level.

Varian continued: “We’ve always thought the world of him, hence he had a serious campaign last year. So I would say it is not a surprise to see his progress, but we also know how hard it is competing at the top-table.

Roger Varian is enjoying the journey with Charyn
Roger Varian is enjoying the journey with Charyn (John Walton/PA)

“This time last year it may have been hard to predict but watching him winter and that performance in the spring, albeit in Listed company at Doncaster at March, it just looked like he was starting to become the complete horse.

“I guess that’s what we would say he is, he looks the complete horse now. He’s very mature, he’s very strong mentally and has a good, tough attitude. He’s also very adaptable, he handles different ground and it all seems to come the same to him, whatever the going description.

“He’s just proving to be a very good horse and they are hard to come by. He’s one of them, so we’re going to enjoy it.”

After wowing in the 2000 Guineas, Notable Speech bounced back from St James’s Palace Stakes disappointment at the Royal meeting to strike in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, reaffirming his position among the elite at this distance.

It will be the first time he will cross swords with Charyn while it is also the first time he will tackle an anticipated softer surface, but the Moulton Paddocks handler is backing his charge to thrive in the French capital.

Notable Speech returned to winning ways at Goodwood
Notable Speech returned to winning ways at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “Notable Speech is in great order. The obvious unknown will be the going – they had a lot of rain in Paris on Thursday but hopefully we can have a couple of drying days, while they will be racing on a fresh strip of ground.

“I couldn’t be any happier with Notable Speech in terms of his wellbeing. He showed he was back to what we saw in the 2000 Guineas last time out in the Sussex Stakes, and it’s going to be a very exciting race.

“Charyn looks to be our main opposition but it’s a strong field, as is always the case in these top races.

“We are excited to be part of it and hopefully Notable Speech can maintain his excellent year. This will be the first time he has encountered this type of ground, but we are hopeful he can handle it. It’s always a bit of a guessing game until you’ve actually raced on it.”

Henry Longfellow has yet to find the scoresheet at three, but has top form to his name, including when a neck second to Rosallion at Royal Ascot.

Henry Longfellow winning at the Curragh last year
Henry Longfellow winning at the Curragh last year (Damien Eagers/PA)

Things did not go to plan when sent off favourite to defeat Notable Speech at Goodwood, but the team at Ballydoyle are content to draw a line through that outing.

O’Brien said: “It was (a mess at Goodwood). We could not believe that happened, it was our last thought – we couldn’t see anyone to go (with him).

“It was mad – but that’s just racing. Everyone is entitled to do whatever, but we got it wrong. We didn’t see it happening, it just happened and he was there and couldn’t get out of it. He had to keep going.”

Andre Fabre is the race’s leading trainer and he saddles what could be the best of the French hopes in Tribalist.

Francois Rohaut’s Caramelito is unbeaten in three but this represents the stiffest test of his career, with last year’s Prix de la Foret winner Kelina (Carlos Laffon-Parias) and Christopher Head’s Ramadan completing the field.



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De Sousa backing Charyn to prevail in Moulin battle

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Silvestre de Sousa is confident Charyn has all the attributes to come out on top in his Prix du Moulin showdown with Notable Speech at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

Roger Varian’s four-year-old has been in top form this season, winning four of his five outings and finishing second in the Lockinge.

Having landed the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, he looked better than ever when scorching to a three-length success in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville and his big-race pilot believes the best could still be to come from the son of Dark Angel ahead of his return to France.

De Sousa told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s in good form and everyone has been very happy with him in the yard, so I think the preparation for the race has gone very well.

“He does please us at home, he’s very laid-back but when we ask for an effort on the gallops, he always gives 100 per cent – he’s a very genuine horse.

“He’s in a good place this year and everything has gone smoothly.

“He’s been improving all the time and obviously he’s been dominating his races. I haven’t had to get to the bottom of him in every race he runs, so we hope for more improvement and he’s very well.”

A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville
A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville (PA)

Charyn will face off against Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech and Aidan O’Brien’s Henry Longfellow for the first time as a new cast of rivals attempt to put a dent in the four-year-old’s brilliant campaign.

However, De Sousa hopes Charyn’s versatility can come to the fore in the French capital as he continues his successful association with the Nurlan Bizakov-owned colt.

De Sousa continued: “He’s a very easy horse to deal with and he can go in any kind of ground you ask him. It looks like it will be genuine ground, but if it is on the soft side, it doesn’t matter to him.

“It will be a tough race, none of them are easy at this level, but I’m sure we’ll turn up to play and in good form.

“I have no doubts about the track, he’ll cope with it, no problem.

“It’s what every jockey wishes for, to bump into a nice horse, it’s what helps you to get up in the morning.

“There are some tough rivals and multiple Group One winners, but I hope we can put on a nice show.”



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Charyn and Notable Speech could cross swords in mouthwatering Moulin

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Roger Varian is considering another tilt at French Group One glory with Charyn, meaning a mouthwatering showdown with 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes hero Notable Speech could be on the cards in the Prix du Moulin.

Owned by Nurlan Bizakov, the grey colt has hit new heights this season and produced a career-best when he shone in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last time out.

There he finished three lengths ahead of Metropolitan to register his fourth victory in five starts in 2024, with it also a second success at the highest level for the four-year-old miler.

A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville
A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville (PA)

It was thought the son of Dark Angel could head straight to Ascot for a shot at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day, but the Carlburg Stables handler has hinted at a run before October’s showpiece meeting at ParisLongchamp on September 8.

“He came out really well (from Deauville), I couldn’t be more pleased with his condition and we are considering the Moulin in a couple weeks’ time,” Varian said.

“The QEII is his big autumn target and it was whether we went straight there or Longchamp on the way, and just looking at his condition and his demeanour and how well he’s come out of Deauville.

“I think we will look at Longchamp on the way to the QEII. The ground doesn’t really concern us at Ascot, he’s one of those remarkable horses that goes as well on good to firm as he does on heavy and vice versa. He doesn’t seem to have a ground preference.

“He is thriving but he has a remarkable constitution, he’s got a great mind and an amazing physique. He was on the go early in March and he doesn’t seem to be tapering off.

“He had a little break after Ascot before the Jacques le Marois and that should stand him in good stead for the autumn.”

Notable Speech returned to winning ways at Goodwood
Notable Speech returned to winning ways at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Firmly on course for a trip to the French capital next month is Charlie Appleby’s Notable Speech, who took full advantage of the absence of Rosallion when bouncing back from his Royal Ascot disappointment at Goodwood.

The Classic winner came through an away day at Newmarket’s July course on Friday morning in pleasing fashion as he prepares for his potential outing on the continent.

Appleby’s assistant trainer Alex Merriam said: “It all went well, it was nothing too serious, it was just to get him away from home on some nice ground. We were all happy and the plan is to go to the Moulin.”



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Charyn storms to impressive Prix Jacques le Marois triumph

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Charyn’s superb season continued as he ran out a convincing winner of the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

Roger Varian’s grey has not put a foot wrong all year, winning the Listed Doncaster Mile on debut and then following up in the bet365 Mile at Sandown.

At Group One level at Newbury he was runner-up in the Lockinge, after which he went one better at the same level when landing the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.

As a result he was well fancied for his Deauville assignment, where he was ridden by Silvestre de Sousa in an initial field of eight that was then depleted as Richard Hannon’s Haatem was a late withdrawal.

Inspiral, John and Thady Gosden’s runner, was not for the first time slow to hit her stride, but Charyn was always handy travelling in the slipstream of race leader Big Rock.

Charyn at Deauville (Neil Morrice/PA)

Two furlongs from home Varian’s four-year-old began to lengthen his stride and from then on there was clearly going to be no catching him, with the success coming by three lengths on the line from French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan, with dual Marois heroine Inspiral in third.

“It was a very comfortable watch, I’m looking forward to seeing it again. He’s a great horse, he seems to be getting better and better,” said an emotional Varian. “He’s a horse who makes my job look easy and I just hope he stays sound.

“I don’t know what else to say, he made me cry. He’s such a beautiful horse. He was most impressive today in the way he put it to bed and he seems to be getting better and better. Some people forget he was a Group Two winner at two and now he’s the finished article.

“You don’t always know where you are with him, he’s very laid-back at home and he carries a lot of condition. I always wonder if I’ve done enough with him.

“He has a great mind, he’s very relaxed and he makes my job very easy. Silvestre is striking up a good relationship with him and I’m delighted for (owner) Nurlan Bizakov and his family. They put so much into the game.”

The race earned Charyn an automatic spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile as part of the ‘Win and You’re in’ series, although the Queen Anne also gained him a spot in the race and Varian is at present looking closer to home for the colt’s next move.

Inspiral and Ryan Moore (PA)

He said: “He got a win-and-you’re-in from the Queen Anne, I’m not sure it’s a route we’ll go down. We have a lot of ground to cover before then, but it’s nice to be invited and it’s nice to have it as an option for the end of the year.

“We’ll have to see how he is after today’s race, he’s in the Moulin and he’s in the QEII, we like the idea of Ascot on Champions Day – it’s just whether we go to Longchamp on the way or not.

“He ran a cracker in the Lockinge when we were beaten by a good horse, but I felt it was a funny race and for him to win at Ascot was most important. Today he backed it up and I’m delighted.”

John Gosden felt Inspiral’s slow start scuppered her chances after she took several strides to get racing.

“I don’t think you can give horses of that class a six- or seven-length start, but she did,” he said of Ryan Moore’s mount.

“She’s never been quick out of the gate, but you won’t get away with it in a Group One race.

“She did it at Ascot once, but take that away and she’s run a really good race and on getting as close as she did has shown she’s in very good form.

“She’s a great character, as was her mother, and has run a huge race from an impossible position. Let’s hope she doesn’t do it again next time.”



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Varian reports Charyn to be on top of his game ahead of Deauville raid

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Roger Varian reports Charyn in peak condition ahead of Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville as he seeks to continue this season’s excellent run of results.

The four-year-old followed up a Listed triumph in the Doncaster Mile with a Group Two win at Sandown, before chasing home Audience in the Lockinge at Newbury.

Charyn then claimed an emphatic first Group One victory in Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne, coming home comfortably clear of Docklands.

The Nurlan Bizakov-owned son of Dark Angel will now bid to double that elite-level tally in France and Varian told Sky Sports Racing: “We’re very happy with Charyn and all set to go – we’re looking forward to it.

“He’s really grown into himself this year, he seems to be the finished article and has really put it all together on the track.

“Obviously, we’re delighted with his performances and hope we can keep it going through the second half of the season now.

“We always rated him very highly and campaigned him accordingly last year, but he seems to have found another level this year.

“He’s a big horse and has perhaps just taken time to furnish out but, as I say, he seems to be the finished article now and is living up to what we always thought he could be.

Royal Ascot 2024 – Day One – Ascot Racecourse
Charyn winning the Queen Anne Stakes (John Walton/PA).

“I thought after going without winning last year, it was very important to get his head in front, so we dropped back down in grade to the Listed race at Doncaster way back in March.

“Obviously, he came through that race strongly and impressively and he’s gone from strength to strength since then.

“It’s not often that you can win any race at Royal Ascot, let alone one of the Group Ones there, and even find the final two furlongs quite a comfortable watch.

“But that’s how it was that day, he travelled well through the race and when it came to the delivery, he looked like he would be quite a hard horse to beat from a long way out.

“It was really important. These races are hard to win and Nurlan has put so much into the game and he’s been a big supporter of ours for the last nine or 10 years, and he’s invested so much into European racing, so it was great that he was there and able to enjoy the moment with his family there with him.”

Varian quickly ruled out a crack at the Sussex Stakes in order to concentrate on this weekend’s target.

He added: “I think as early as a week after Ascot, we set our stall out that this would be his next race, we thought it was right to just focus on one race and Deauville would be his spot.

“We’ve trained him accordingly, he’s in great shape and we’re very much looking forward to Sunday.

“He’s got a great mind, he’s a very relaxed, laid-back individual and takes everything in his stride. He’s travelled before, he won a Group Two at Chantilly as a two-year-old, so I think the journey and everything should be fine – hopefully, there will be no excuses on the day.

“It’s a strong race, it always is. It might not be a big field this year but it is still strong and you’d always respect Inspiral, she’s won the last two runnings of this race so obviously likes it out at Deauville.

“Haatem is coming off winning a strong Jersey and you always have to respect the French horses, but I wouldn’t swap our horse for any other.”



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Charyn runs out clear-cut Queen Anne winner

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Charyn ran out a decisive winner of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, the opening race of the 2024 meeting.

Trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, the four-year-old has progressed at a rate of knots this season and went one better than last time out in the Lockinge at Newbury to win as the 100-30 favourite.

The race was something of a strange spectacle as two of the French raiders, Big Rock and Facteur Cheval, raced on their own on the far side, while the rest of the field followed Robert Havlin on Lockinge winner Audience.

All smiles, as Silvestre de Sousa returns aboard Charyn
All smiles, as Silvestre de Sousa returns aboard Charyn (PA)

De Sousa was not as far behind Audience as he had been at Newbury and looked to be holding all the aces with two furlongs to run when he kicked on. Hayley Turner and Docklands gave admirable chase to claim a clear second, beaten two and a quarter lengths, while Maljoom ran on for third, as Charyn claimed the first Group One victory of his career.

Varian said: “It doesn’t get any better, a Group One at Royal Ascot. I’m so delighted. I’m really so delighted for his owner (Nurlan Bizakov), who has invested so much in the game, he’s supported me for a number of years.

“I’m delighted for my team, everyone works so hard at home. It’s a great day and we’ll enjoy it.

“You have to say he’s improved as he’s got older. He ran some fine races in defeat last year, he was in the biggest races, on the top table and he didn’t disgrace himself.

“He seems to have found another level of form this year. His run in the Lockinge last time was an outstanding run, and he’s confirmed that today, so I’m thrilled.

“Silvestre is convinced he will stay a mile and a quarter, and I kind of agree with him, but he’s not doing much wrong over a mile at the moment, so I wouldn’t be in a rush to change things.”

He went on: “He’s obviously improved with age, but he was a good two-year-old – he was a Group Two-winning two-year-old, he has done it through the ages. You only have to look at him in the paddock physically to see how mature he is, he’s a bull of a horse, and that is fantastic.

“He has been good all year, at Doncaster and then Sandown, and he ran a great race in the Lockinge where he came right away from all the horses he raced with. I need to watch it again, but he looked pretty good today, and it’s exciting.

“At Doncaster and Sandown he maybe had to run to the level he showed last year to win them, but I think even with defeat in the Lockinge, his run told us he was a Group One horse and today confirmed it.

“It’s a good start to the week and he deserved that, he’s been great all year. He’s a fine horse, very consistent and seems to be thriving.

On future plans, he added: “He’s well entered up and we need to decide what we do with him.

“He started early and his first race was at Doncaster in March, so I don’t think we can go bang, bang, bang all summer. We would love to be back here for Champions Day later in the season, with a couple of races along the way during the summer.”

Of his relationship with De Sousa, Varian said: “We have an arrangement with James (Doyle), but every owner is independent and James will ride a lot of horses this year who won’t be in our stable.

“Nurlan was keen to keep Silvestre on Charyn after his winning start at Doncaster and it was Nurlan’s decision to keep him on right the way through.

“We are very fond of Silvestre as a person and he is riding at the top of his game. He delivered a Guineas (on Elmalka) for us when James was out of the country so he has taken his chances, but we are in a spoilt position this year of being able to use James and Silvestre and not to mention a hard-working team of supporting jockeys back home.”

Owner Nurlan Bizakov (right) with Silvestre de Sousa
Owner Nurlan Bizakov (right) with Silvestre de Sousa (John Walton/PA)

For De Sousa it was confirmation of a return to the very top in Britain, after his spell in Hong Kong ended prematurely following a 10-month suspension imposed for breaching betting rules.

He said: “He’s a lovely horse, he appreciates a bit more give, but he’s a horse who has been running great races and deserves to get one of these big ones.

“It’s great and I can’t believe how things are going. A Classic win in Italy and in England and now a Group One again and at Ascot, it is amazing.

“I’m just thrilled how things are going for me.”



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De Sousa delighted to maintain Charyn partnership in Queen Anne

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Silvestre De Sousa has an excellent opportunity to get himself back into the Royal Ascot winner’s circle for the first time in four years when he partners Charyn in Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes.

Champion jockey in Britain three times between 2015 and 2018, the Brazilian has ridden seven winners at the sport’s showpiece meeting, his first being Namibian in the 2011 Queen’s Vase and his last victory coming aboard hot favourite Art Power in the 2020 Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap.

Following 17 years on the UK circuit, De Sousa made the move to Hong Kong in the late summer of 2022, a spell which was brought to an abrupt end after he was handed a 10-month suspension last May for breaching betting regulations.

The 43-year-old returned to Britain earlier this year in an attempt to rebuild his career and it has proved a resounding success, steering Charyn to big-race wins in the Doncaster Mile and bet365 Mile before claiming his first British Classic success aboard his stablemate Elmalka in the 1000 Guineas.

Charyn winning at Sandown
Charyn winning at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

James Doyle is set to take over in the saddle aboard Elmalka in Friday’s Coronation Stakes, but De Sousa will be in action in Tuesday’s traditional curtain-raiser on Charyn, who since his successive wins in the early spring has finished second in the Lockinge at Newbury.

“I’m delighted connections have let me keep the ride and it’s a nice place to be – Ascot on the big stage,” said the jockey.

“The horse is in great form and I’m looking for a big day. Royal Ascot is a hard place to go with a horse with a chance, when you have a ride there with a chance it makes all the difference.

“He’s very well in himself and has won a Group race already this year. Our target is to win a Group One with him.”



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Elmalka ‘in great form’ ahead of Coronation tilt

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Roger Varian reports 1000 Guineas winner Elmalka to be in fine spirits and on course to run in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The daughter of Kingman came from last to first to claim Classic glory in only her third race at Newmarket, edging out Porta Fortuna by a neck.

Varian told Sky Sports Racing: “She’s in great form and has had no problems, she’s done everything right since the Guineas and did a lovely bit of work last week.

“We’re very much thinking of the Coronation Stakes. Since she won at Newmarket, we were never going to Ireland.

“I think that was only her third start, so she looks like she’s getting the hang of it now and hopefully we’ll see a strong performance at Ascot.”

A wide draw prompted the hold-up tactics at HQ, but Varian believes his filly is versatile and a different gameplan could be used at the Royal meeting.

He added: “That’s really the only way we could ride her at Newmarket when we were drawn 16 of 16. She’s so inexperienced, we couldn’t really go forward from that draw and race on a wide wing with no cover.

“So we said beforehand, we’re just going to have to suck up the draw and ride her to run well – and as it turned out, everything worked for her.

“But she’s very straightforward. She’s been slow to get the hang of things, but she’s looking like she knows her job now, so I’m sure she’ll be a very straightforward ride at Ascot.”

Varian is confident that sticking to a mile is the right option for now, but he hasn’t ruled out moving up in distance at a later date after Elmalka stayed on well to get up in the final strides in the Guineas.

“She shaped that way at Newmarket but I’d say she has sharpened up, because she was still a bit green in the Guineas and as I say, it was only her third run,” said the trainer.

The QIPCO Guineas Festival – 1000 Guineas Day – Newmarket Racecourse
Elmalka and connections after the 1000 Guineas (David Davies for the Jockey Club).

“You can make a mistake sometimes in thinking they need further when they are kind of learning on the job and I think it would be a mistake to go 10 furlongs now.

“But we’ll see how we get on at Ascot and I’m sure we’ll put her in races like the Nassau later on.

“That’s not to say she’ll run there, she might stay at a mile all year, but I think we’re still learning about her and hopefully we get a good result at Ascot.”

Varian also has high hopes of Group One success for Charyn in the Queen Anne Stakes after the four-year-old followed up wins at Doncaster and Sandown by chasing home surprise Lockinge scorer Audience at Newbury.

The Newmarket handler said: “He’s in great form – I wish it was tomorrow, so hopefully the next two weeks will go smoothly, with no problems.

“He ran great in the Lockinge, he was the only horse to come out of the pack. I thought he ran really well.

“Credit to the winner, who is a very good horse and put in a great performance, but I thought Charyn came a long way away from all the horses he raced with, so it was a great performance and hopefully he can do something similar at Ascot.”



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Big Rock team will regroup after Lockinge conditions go against QEII winner

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Maurizio Guarnieri was left to bemoan conditions at Newbury after Big Rock failed to deliver a blow on his debut for the trainer in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes.

The son of Rock Of Gibraltar was the highest-rated miler in the world last season when trained by Christopher Head, but owners Yeguada Centurion SL made the decision to switch the colt for this season to Guarnieri.

Having chased home Ace Impact in the Prix du Jockey Club, he dropped back to a mile to finish second in some high-class events last season before ending 2023 with an emphatic display in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

That six-length success came on rain-softened ground on British Champions Day, and Chantilly-based Italian Guarnieri was dreaming of similar when he looked at the weather forecasts ahead of Big Rock’s latest UK raid.

But the anticipated rainfall never materialised for the strapping four-year-old, as the 11-4 second-favourite could only finish sixth, beaten 15 lengths behind shock winner Audience.

Guarnieri said: “We know that the ground is a real problem and if he had the ground OK for him, after 210 days off then he would have been OK.

“But this is a Group One and against horses with one or two races and it is not so easy and with today’s conditions it felt like the world was against us.

“The horse didn’t show what he can do in heavy and soft ground, he didn’t change his speed and normally the others are three and four lengths behind, but today he just stayed at the same pace.”

Big Rock holds an entry in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot where he would have the chance to recreate his QEII heroics.

However, Guarnieri has warned he would like to see soft in the going description before committing to another visit to Berkshire.

“I think before we decide we need to know the horse is all right and then discuss it with the owner,” continued Guarnieri.

“In my opinion, he could go to Ascot if we get some soft ground which can sometimes happen at Ascot.

“Today we are just unlucky with the weather and he has had 200 days off. The jockey said the horse was just the same all the time and he had no chance in the race.”

Meanwhile, it is full steam ahead to the Royal meeting for the runner-up Charyn after a brave performance in search of an early-season hat-trick.

The son of Dark Angel has been in top form for Roger Varian so far this term, striking at both Doncaster and Sandown before his gallant Newbury second and was shortened to 5-1 joint-favourite for the Queen Anne Stakes by bookmakers Paddy Power.

Varian said: “Hats off to the winner and it is a bittersweet moment for us as he’s ran an absolute blinder and he had to come out of the pack on his own.

“He’s the only one to come out of the pack and make ground on the winner and it was a mighty run in defeat. I think we can be pleased with his performance, if not a touch frustrated with how the race panned out – without taking anything away from the winner.

“It will be Queen Anne all the way as long as he comes out of the race OK and we think the stiff mile at Ascot will suit him well and we’re looking forward to that.”



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Charyn powers home to claim convincing Mile victory

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Roger Varian’s Charyn confirmed the promise of his reappearance win at Doncaster when coming with a storming run to land the bet365 Mile at Sandown.

Varian nominated this Group Two after his comeback success and following some creditable runs at the highest level last season, a step back up to the top grade looks likely, with Paddy Power cutting him in price to 9-2 from 10s for the Lockinge at Newbury.

Victory looked a long way off three furlongs from home, however, as Silvestre de Sousa was rowing away at the back of the pack, having left the stalls slowly.

At that stage, Poker Face was just about to take over from Pogo and looked to hold all the aces, still travelling well.

The veteran Lord North was also making progress from the rear over a trip short of his best but Nostrum looked a difficult ride for Ryan Moore.

By now, De Sousa was in full flight and the 9-4 favourite came with a withering run down the centre of the track, getting up to beat Poker Face by a length and a quarter.

Charyn came with a powerful late run
Charyn came with a powerful late run (John Walton/PA)

“He was slow from the gates, so Silvestre had no option but to drop in, but the horse came home very strong didn’t he, he’s a fighter and he’s a good horse,” said Varian.

“He was a good winner on the line and although it took him a while to get there and get on top, it’s a tough track and the ground is holding and it’s hard work. He’s finished strong and we’re very pleased.

“He’s always been a genuine horse and looking back to last year, although he didn’t win, he contested the biggest races and wasn’t disgraced. He looks to have stepped up a level this year and hopefully he can continue.

“This horse is so laid-back, he works nicely at home but he’s never flashy and he never streaks three or four lengths clear in a gallop, that’s not the type of horse he is.

“He carries a lot of condition and I always think he needs a run, but he’s got a great constitution and he’s finding plenty on the track. Hopefully he continues to do so and he will have tougher tasks ahead now, but he’s doing well and we’re very pleased.

“He chased home Paddington three times (last year). He was fourth in the Irish Guineas and had some traffic that day, he was third in the St James’s Palace and he finished third in the Sussex Stakes – and each time he was beaten three or four lengths.

“So, he was running consistently but he was bumping into the very best of his generation.

“I don’t know how much he has improved though, because on his best bits of his form last year, you would give him every chance today. I think we will really find out how much he has improved when he goes into Group One company next time.”

On future plans, he added: “He’s entered in the Lockinge and that looks the obvious place to go, it’s three weeks from now. Winning this race and winning at Doncaster, he deserves to take his chance there. It will be tougher again than today but Silvestre said we could step up in trip one day as well.

“He deserves to be entered in the top mile races and he might end up going beyond a mile at some point. But it will be a mile for now and he deserves to be in the Lockinge and deserves to be in the Queen Anne.”

De Sousa said: “Today was much more tactical than Doncaster but I just had to be aware of the good horses around me and he’s a nice horse going forward who deserves to win that kind of race.

“He’s a bit more confident after getting his head in front at Doncaster and hopefully he can come forward again.

“Roger and the owner have given me this nice opportunity and I’m delighted.”



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‘Talented’ Nostrum makes Mile return at Sandown

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Nostrum is out to prove he remains a high-class prospect when he makes his return in the bet365 Mile at Sandown on Friday.

The one-time Classic hope endured a frustrating three-year-old campaign and having missed the first half of the season due to a setback, made a winning reappearance in Newmarket’s Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.

However, that was the sole bright moment for the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt, who got stuck in the mud when second in Goodwood’s Thoroughbred Stakes before finishing lame when the odds-on favourite at York in the Strensall Stakes, after which his season was brought to a halt.

The son of Kingman is now back to correct a few records and after pleasing his connections in the lead-up to his reappearance, has the chance to give his handler a fourth win in the Group Two event.

Nostrum was once seen as a Classic contender
Nostrum was once seen as a Classic contender (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He’s in good shape and has had a good winter, so it will be exciting to see him back and what he can do,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“He has won at Sandown before and that is a plus, we know he likes the track and it will be good to see him back. He’s been slightly frustrating, but we know he’s talented, so it would be nice to see it on the track.

“He’s had a pretty unremarkable prep leading into it, he’s been sound and moving well and the team there have been happy. Ryan Moore was happy last Wednesday when he rode him and it seems to have gone smoothly this spring, whereas last year we had setbacks and were always on the backfoot.

“Hopefully the ground will be good and we get to see the true Nostrum.”

John and Thady Gosden’s stalwart Lord North will drop back to a mile having failed to land a fourth straight Dubai Turf at Meydan last month.

Lord North will be ridden by William Buick at Sandown
Lord North will be ridden by William Buick at Sandown (Megan Ridgwell/PA)

The Clarehaven eight-year-old has not raced over this distance since finishing second in the Balmoral Handicap in 2019, but has become a regular figure in the biggest events over middle distances since that contest.

Roger Varian’s Charyn regularly hit the frame without getting his moment in the spotlight last term, but got the new campaign off to the perfect start when striking in the Doncaster Mile on the opening day of the Flat turf season.

He now makes the move into deeper waters and his Carlburg Stables handler warns he will need to improve to match his exploits on Town Moor.

Varian said: “He’s in good form and the race on Friday will require a bit more winning than Doncaster, it’s a strong, select field, I think.

“It’s a very solid Group Two, but the track, trip and ground should suit him and he goes there in good form.”

Charyn delivered a telling blow at Doncaster
Charyn delivered a telling blow at Doncaster (Nigel French/PA)

Poker Face claimed the scalp of the reopposing Flight Plan in Pontefract’s Pomfret Stakes last year, a victory that kick-started a three-race winning run for Simon and Ed Crisford’s representative.

His streak came to an end in Italy in November, but he reappears as the second best runner in the field on official figures, rated just 2lb inferior to Lord North.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Flight Plan ended his three-year-old season on a high when claiming the Group Two Dullingham Park Stakes at Leopardstown and will have sharpened up thanks to a racecourse gallop at Newmarket during the Craven meeting.

Hungerford Stakes winner Witch Hunter represents the in-form Richard Hannon team, with Charlie Hills’ Pogo completing the line-up.



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De Sousa gets off to flying start on classy Charyn

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Silvestre de Sousa made the best possible start to the new turf season when teaming up with Roger Varian’s Charyn to win the William Hill Doncaster Mile.

The former champion jockey has only recently returned from a 10-month suspension picked up in Hong Kong for breaching betting rules.

De Sousa, 43, has been getting his eye in on the all-weather recently but will have been thrilled to pick up the first Listed race of the season on the Group One-placed Charyn.

Last year’s winner Astral Beau made another bold bid for Pam Sly but she had no answer close home to the 2-1 winner, who streaked three and a half lengths clear under hands and heels riding.

“He’s a lovely horse, he just felt a little bit lazy out there,” said De Sousa.

“He’s ended up picking up really well. There wasn’t much of a pace, so I just rode the race to suit him.”

With David Egan taking up his role with Amo Racing this season, Varian will be employing a new team of jockeys, with De Sousa in line to pick up plenty, along with James Doyle.

“That was a nice start to the season. Last year, he put up some really good efforts in the Irish Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes against some top opposition,” said Varian.

Charyn and Silvestre De Sousa return
Charyn and Silvestre De Sousa return (Nigel French/PA)

“He was a Group Two-winning two-year-old, he’s always been a nice horse and had some big questions asked of him last year, hopefully this can be his year.

“He looks to have done well through the winter, he’s a stronger horse this year and we were always keen to come here just to try and get a win on the board and build him back up again.

“I was worried about the ground, as while he has run some good races on testing ground, he’s at his best on a sounder surface. I think he’ll go on any ground.

“I’d like to go to Sandown for the Group Two (Bet365 Mile) and then the Lockinge.”

On the jockey situation, Varian added: “We’re in a good position. Some of our owners have their own jockeys, James Doyle is going to ride quite a few for us when available.

“Silvestre has been in riding work, I’ve got Jack Mitchell to call upon, Cam Noble, Raul de Silva, Aiden Keeley, so I’ve got a good team and they are all in every morning putting in the work, so hopefully they’ll all get opportunities.

“Silvestre is a good jockey, we like him a lot, we’ve known him a long time.”



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Doncaster Mile opportunity for classy Charyn

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There will be no Paddington standing in Charyn’s way when he returns to action in the William Hill Doncaster Mile on Saturday.

Roger Varian’s four-year-old proved the most consistent of performers during his Classic season but had the misfortune of bumping into Aidan O’Brien’s now retired leading miler on three occasions at Group One level last term.

The son of Dark Angel is the top-rated for his seasonal reappearance in slower ground than his handler would prefer, but nevertheless the Carlburg Stables handler is excited to see how the colt performs now with plenty of big-race experience under his belt.

Charyn (right) bumped into Paddington on numerous occasions in 2023
Charyn (right) bumped into Paddington on numerous occasions in 2023 (John Walton/PA)

“He had a good year last year and it was a shame he drew a blank in terms of wins, but he put up some fine performances,” said Varian.

“The Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes spring to mind as pretty solid performances against top company.

“We’re looking forward to him this year and he’s training nicely. He looks like he’s matured a bit more and we’re going to get his season started on Saturday.

“He’s top-rated and closely matched to Knight on a couple of his runs last year, but it will be tough ground on Saturday, it’s going to be heavy and not ideal ground. I think he’s better on better ground, but he’s ready to get started and it has been the plan to come here, so we can’t do anything about the ground on this occasion.”

Knight has some smart form to his name
Knight has some smart form to his name (Neil Morrice/PA)

Charyn was last seen finishing third in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood, a race where chief market rival Knight was a place ahead in second.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s four-year-old would go on to be beaten a head at Sandown in the Fortune Stakes before finishing well held on his final outing of the year, but the gelding now returns with a first-time visor fitted and with hopes of rediscovering his best form.

Karl Burke’s Holloway Boy has been off the track since finishing a length and a half fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and was an honourable third behind Auguste Rodin in his only previous visit to Town Moor as a two-year-old.

Burke said: “He’s ready for a run, he’s got very lazy since he’s been gelded and there’s very few races for him until we get into May and June, so I’d say he’ll need a run to be honest.

“He’s well in himself, but his work is very lazy at home.”

Astral Beau winning at Doncaster in 2023
Astral Beau winning at Doncaster in 2023 (Nigel French/PA)

Meanwhile, Pam Sly is hoping to put weather woes behind her as Astral Beau defends the title she claimed in good style last season.

The wet winter has restricted use of the gallops at Sly’s Cambridgeshire base, but the handler feels she has managed to get just enough work into her five-year-old to seek another spot on the podium.

“It should be wet, which will be ideal for her,” said Sly.

“We’re just having a job getting them fit because we’ve been waterlogged for so long. I think we’re nearly there and hopefully she will run all right and if she gets in the first three I will be pleased.

“We’ve had a few offers for her, but we thought we would keep her for another year for a bit of fun.

“There aren’t really any other races for her until May. Last year we went from Doncaster to the Dahlia Stakes and I think we may end up doing the same this season.

“You never know until you run them whether they have trained on or not do you really, but she seems good – there’s nothing wrong with her.”

Ralph Beckett’s Heron Stakes runner-up Grey’s Monument produced arguably a career best to scoop Listed honours at Kempton in December, while David O’Meara’s new recruit Padishakh and William Stone’s Dashing Roger complete the field of seven.



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