Tag Archive for: Silvestre de Sousa

De Sousa determined to make up for lost time on Charyn

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Silvestre de Sousa has been counting down the days of his recent lengthy suspension, with the prospect of riding Charyn in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot keeping him going.

The former champion jockey has enjoyed a good season on his return from Hong Kong, with a Classic victory on Elmalka and further Group One successes on Charyn.

But he was fortunate that a 24-day ban, eight of which were suspended, earned due to the totting-up procedure, finished just in time for him to return for Qipco British Champions Day.

“It was great to find a horse like Charyn to take me through the season,” said the Brazilian.

Charyn and Silvestre de Sousa have struck up a great partnership
Charyn and Silvestre de Sousa have struck up a great partnership (David Davies/PA)

“He’s been improving since day one, when he started in a Listed race, and he has gone on to win a Group Two and the Group Ones at Royal Ascot and Deauville.

“You could say he’s unlucky not to be unbeaten this year, as things went against him in the Lockinge (second to Audience) and it was a similar story last time in the Moulin (runner-up to Tribalist).

“It’s been a good season apart from the recent suspension, and now I’m looking forward to Saturday. It’s been a long three weeks that I’ve been off and I don’t agree with it, as I’m being punished twice, but I’m back in time for Champions Day and I’m looking forward to Charyn.

“He had a racecourse gallop at Newmarket last week and I rode him again in his final bit of work on Tuesday morning. He’s very laid back and he only does what you ask him to do. You have to ask him questions at the right time, but he’s in very good form.”

The victory of Dylan Cunha’s Prague in Newmarket’s Joel Stakes was one of the feel-good stories of the season, as he was led up by his owner, Amedeo Dal Pos.

Bought for 10,000 guineas unraced out of Ballydoyle, he was supplemented on Monday.

“It’s been the plan since his win at Newmarket and we just needed to scope him and make sure everything was in tip-top condition after a gallop on Saturday. We are not Coolmore, so with £70,000 at stake (supplementary fee) we have to make sure, but the vet was happy. He’s in grand form,” said Cunha.

“The horse has earned the supplementary fee in prize money, so the money is sitting in Amedeo’s Weatherbys account. I said to him that his 10-grand horse was about to become an 80-grand horse, but if anyone could buy a runner in a Group One for 80 grand, they would spend that much, wouldn’t they.

“It’s the British Champions Series, so it’s a strong race and we go there under no illusions. Charyn is the horse to beat. We need to improve another 5lb to win it, but Prague is in flying form and on the up, so we’ve got to take our chance. We are respectful of everyone, but we are confident in our horse.”

Simon Crisford trains Quddwah with his son Ed and he met with his first career defeat when fourth to Charyn at Deauville on his most recent outing.

“Quddwah hasn’t run since the Jacques le Marois, so we are looking forward to seeing him back on the track. He’s been going well and a bit of soft ground will help him,” said Crisford senior.

“He’s obviously fairly lightly-raced, but he’s come a long way and he’s still learning. I thought it was a pleasing effort in the Marois, and he was just two heads off finishing second.

“We also run Poker Face and he’s in good form too. He was second (to Prague) at Newmarket last time and we are very pleased with him.”

Facteur Cheval loves the mud and finished second to Big Rock in this 12 months ago. The Dubai Turf winner was also a fine third to Notable Speech in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last time out.

“This is probably going to be it for this year for him, but we’re looking forward to this race,” said Barry Irwin of Team Valor, part-owners of the five-year-old.

“My trainer (Jerome Reynier) uses one of those smart saddles where they get all sorts of data and information – and his numbers for his big pre-race work were better than they were going into Dubai and that was previously his best work ever heading into a race.

“I wouldn’t say my trainer is over-confident, but I would say he is hoping for a big race.”

Reynier is expecting a bold show and added: “I think you can forget about his run in the Queen Anne Stakes (sixth behind Charyn), as he lost a shoe and raced on the wrong side of the track.

“I thought he ran a good race at Goodwood, even though the ground was a little bit too firm for him, and I think we have him in better shape now.”

French Guineas winner Metropolitan is back at Ascot having finished third behind Rosallion in the St James’s Palace Stakes. He was then second to Charyn in the Marois.

Royal Ascot 2024 – Day One – Ascot Racecourse
Metropolitan (green, centre) finishing third to Rosallion (John Walton/PA).

Trainer Mario Baratti expects him to get closer here and said: “Metropolitan has improved again since the Jacques le Marois. He is getting stronger all the time and I have been very happy with his preparation.

“I believe we can get closer to Charyn this time. Charyn was very impressive at Deauville but, in my opinion, he is better on good ground, whereas I think our horse is better on soft ground and that will help our chance.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Henry Longfellow is winless this year having gone unbeaten at two, but he has run several good races.

“Things haven’t really gone to plan for him this year, things have never fallen into place,” said O’Brien.

“We think we haven’t seen the best of him yet and we have him in good form.”

Silvestre de Sousa hit with hefty ban

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Silvestre de Sousa has been handed a 24-day suspension, with eight days deferred, after breaching the whip rules aboard Big Mojo in the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.

The three-time champion jockey was found to have used his whip above the permitted level when riding Mick Appleby’s high-class juvenile, who was beaten a neck by Aesterius in the Town Moor Group Two.

It was De Sousa’s fifth offence in the previous six months concerning his use of the whip, comprising one offence for using the whip above the permitted level, two for using the whip without time to respond and once for use of the whip in the incorrect place.

De Sousa admitted the breach to the stewards at Doncaster, but the matter was referred to the Whip Review Committee, who have now confirmed a penalty of 24 days suspension, with eight days deferred for six months or 200 rides, whichever comes first.

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.”

Al Musmak rediscovers top form to strike at Newmarket

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Al Musmak got his career back on track with a clear-cut victory in the Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket.

Six runners went to post for the one-mile Listed contest, with John and Thady Gosden’s impressive York scorer Lead Artist all the rage to follow up as the 6-4 favourite.

Al Musmak had shown himself to be a smart colt as a juvenile, winning in Listed company at Haydock and finishing second to Ghostwriter in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes.

However, he failed to beat a single rival on his return in the Dante at York and his latest effort when seventh in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot was not much of an improvement.

Stepping back in trip from a mile and a quarter to a straight mile, Roger Varian’s charge was an 11-2 shot in the hands of Silvestre de Sousa and dug deep in the heat of battle to beat Australian raider Kitty Rose by two and a quarter lengths, with Lead Artist back in third.

Varian said: “He ran poorly in the Dante in May, but I didn’t think he ran too badly at Ascot in a very hot Hampton Court Stakes.

“He didn’t quite get home and after that we were always going to come back to a mile. He’s really enjoyed the conditions out there, the race set up nicely and he was strong at the finish, so we are delighted to get him back on track.

“Just looking around, unless he stopped, I didn’t think much was coming back at him. The last furlong was a good watch.

“We’ll stay at this trip now and natural progression could be the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood and we will see how he progresses in the autumn.

“He has some really strong juvenile form and even chased home Rosallion in the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot. He won a quite strong Ascendant Stakes at Haydock and then finished second in the Royal Lodge.

“Obviously we were disappointed with his first two starts this year and we thought it was the right thing to stretch him out to a mile and a quarter.

“It wasn’t, but back to a mile suited today. We never thought he wasn’t the same horse, it has maybe just taken a run or two to work out what we are doing.”

Sergeant Wilko (left) on his way to victory at Newmarket
Sergeant Wilko (left) on his way to victory at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)

Sergeant Wilko continued his rise through the sprinting ranks with victory in the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap under Oisin Murphy.

A winner at Newcastle in March and Leicester in May, Kevin Ryan’s progressive speedster was a 6-1 shot to plunder this £100,000 contest and after racing on the speed from flag-fall, he found plenty for pressure to score by a length from Moswaat.

“He was lovely and relaxed in front, he’s the type of horse that you always think is going a stride too quick but he’s always half backing off the bridle,” said Ryan.

“He’s always going to grind it out, he likes to do it that way. We’ll see where we go, the ground is important to him and Oisin has given him a fantastic ride.

“The plan was always to come here and hope he gets the ground, the next plan is to go to the Stewards’ Cup (at Goodwood), but we will mind him on the ground.”

Murphy, who also hit the target on Giavellotto in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes, completed a treble when Sterling Knight just got the nod in a three-way photo-finish for the closing Blandford Bloodstock Handicap.

The July Festival 2024 – Ladies Day – Newmarket Racecourse
Sterling Knight ridden by Oisin Murphy (right) on their way to winning (Joe Giddens/PA).

Ed Dunlop’s 7-1 chance had just a short head to spare over Tempus, with Twirling a further head back in third.

Murphy said: “The horse is trying a mile, the pace wasn’t that hot for a furlong or so, which helped him. He enjoyed the conditions and he’s in great form.

“It’s a hard place to ride winners and I’d only had one winner from so many rides here so far this year, so I needed to get going here.”

Magic Mild (15-2) opened her account at the third attempt in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes for trainer Clive Cox and jockey Rossa Ryan.

Third on her Newmarket debut before finishing down the field in the Marygate at York, the daughter of Havana Grey bounced back with a one-and-a-half-length success.

“I don’t really know what happened in the Marygate. She just got a little bit upset going across the track that day at a stage where we were still learning about her,” said Cox.

“It was a way-below-par performance but she was far more at home here today. She has been super at home and really came to herself the last couple of weeks. Hopefully we can look forward to more progress from here as well.

“I would hope we can look forward to some nice days with her.”

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.”

Adaay in the sun well deserved for teak-tough Millman filly

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Determined filly Adaay In Devon again showed great heart to cling on for victory in the Listed-class BetMGM: It’s Showtime Scurry Stakes over five furlongs at Sandown.

Rod Millman’s well-backed 11-8 favourite took up a customary prominent position early on under Silvestre de Sousa but it was clear from halfway that she was going to have to work hard for victory.

However, the three-year-old first saw off the challenge of the free-running Nighteyes and then the line came just in time for her to shade Flora Of Bermuda by a head.

That made it seven wins from 15 starts for Adaay In Devon, who has also been a runner-up on four occasions, including when second to Jasour in a Commonwealth Cup trial at Ascot last month.

That was over six furlongs, along with her most recent outing, when third behind Elite Status in the Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury, and De Sousa was always confident his mount would dig deep in the closing stages at this trip.

He told Racing TV: “She’s very genuine and she gets further than five, even a stiff five.

“The problem was we were probably on the worst part of the ground on the inside, that’s not the place you want to be when it’s raining like that, it’s better to be three off.

“With the way the race has panned out, with the draw I had, I had to go that way, but she’s just so genuine and very tough, so I’m pleased she’s got her head in front quite nicely.

“She gives me 100 per cent every time I ride her and every race she runs, she produces great form, so I couldn’t be more pleased.”

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.”

Monday Musings: Waiting…

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W H Smith said the 2024 version of Horses In Training would be available for dispatching from March 20th, writes Tony Stafford. Normally, I would buy my copy a few days earlier than that, at Cheltenham, but this time I wasn’t there, and rather inconveniently forgot to ask the Editor, who was, to collect one for me.

Age doesn’t help. A few years ago, I bought a copy from the Racing Post shop there and duly left it in the box that was obligingly made available – necessary as I’d not bothered to book a press badge for the week.

WHS said – or rather its web site did, it seems they don’t have any actual people working for them nowadays – that it would take two or three days to arrive. It hasn’t. I’m a bit worried because on the same ordering page, they still have Horses In Training 2023 available at the same price. Few authors can share editor Graham Dench’s smugness that an out-of-date issue is as valuable as the new one.

You might ask why I should be worried that a company with the worldwide reputation of W H Smith to protect could be thought to be that slipshod. Last year, when the wonderful Sir Rupert Mackeson arranged through his sources to get me HIT 2023, it duly arrived from the year before so I’m holding (or not) my breath. They did send the correct one out eventually.

Why am I so het up about it? Well, it’s the start of the flat and I always like to look at which yards have accumulated more horses than before and note the trainers who prefer not to reveal their equine strengths.

In general, the big get bigger, the small struggle and it needs something a little different for a trainer to make an early impact. As George Boughey has shown over the past few years, being youthful as well as able comes into it, and he was up to 165 officially last year. I wonder how many in 2024 – no don’t tell me – I’ll wait until tomorrow or whenever the priceless volume arrives.

When I was introduced by our mutual friend Michelle Fernandes to Dylan Cunha at the April sale in Newmarket last year, I confess I hadn’t heard of him, or if I had, it would have skimmed over my consciousness like so many things do nowadays. But looking at HIT after our chat, I saw he had 17 horses in his yard in Windsor Road, Newmarket.

Dylan is from South Africa and left the land of his birth a couple of years ago to see if he could make it over here. A winning Group 1 trainer back home, he had chanced him arm but with the help of the highly-talented Silver Sword in the yard – an impressive winner of the last race at York’s Ebor meeting last year – he made quite a stir.

Needing a larger premises as the numbers crept up, he did a deal to take over the famed Phantom House Stables of William Jarvis when the last trainer of that revered surname decided to call time – understandably keeping the family home on the premises.

A great friend and contemporary from Harrow school of William Haggas, it must have become in part a frustration to see his pal’s career travelling in the opposite direction, perhaps one day even to the extent that Haggas might make it to champion trainer, but it will need a slowing-down from the Gosdens and Aidan O’Brien, maybe even Roger Varian, to permit that.

The move sorted, Dylan was always active at the sales and by this point he has 50 horses under his care – I’m not sure whether HIT will have caught up with it. Last week I read an article in the admirable South African Monday to Friday racing publication Turf Talk that published an interview with the family man who is doing his home country proud.

It revealed that he was running a two-year-old in the Brocklesby on the opening day of the flat. Traditionally the first juvenile race of the season from its time until 1964 at Lincoln racecourse, it often brings out a nice debutant.

Zminiature, named for his size but clearly not his ability, dealt with his 14 opponents in authoritative style, expertly guided home by Rhys Clutterbuck, nicely settled into his new role as Dylan’s stable jockey. They also had a winner together with 9/1 shot Gogo Yubari the previous afternoon at Lingfield.

Zminiature was the first of his 25 juveniles to be seen out and the win gives him the enviable position of putting down a marker for the rest of them when getting close to running. I do fear for the South African bookmakers who must have been subjected to a bit of a hammering from this well-touted, over there at least, first-day winner.

Another new partnership on the opening day provided an even more significant, and unexpected, result for the talented David Egan, new first rider for Amo Racing. David had spent some of the weeks leading up to Saturday with a few choice rides and wins in the US for Amo’s boss, football agent Kia Joorabchian, and this first UK winner together since the announcement of their new partnership couldn’t have been better timed for the rider.

The five-year-old Mr Professor, a 33/1 shot, was one of seven Amo horses listed in Alice Haynes’ 2023 team, but they, like so many others, have moved on. Likewise, Alice, who has added the spacious Machell Place to her existing yard around the corner at Cadland stables at the foot of Warren Hill in Newmarket as her numbers increase.

Dominic Ffrench Davis has always been a popular man with his fellow trainers and one who has proved he can succeed over jumps and on the flat. This year will be his 31st with a licence and promises to be his best yet.

When the 2023 book came out, it listed just one Amo horse. In the event, 32 individual horses for the mercurial owner won 16 races, double Dominic’s previous best from 14 years ago. His prizemoney haul of £480k was almost five times his existing record.

Victory in the Lincoln already has Dominic above £80k for the year, a figure he has only three times previously exceeded, with a maximum of just over £100k in 2022. Egan meanwhile cannot wait to partner King Of Steel, still in training as a four-year-old with Roger Varian, for whom he has ridden so many winners.

Having finished second to Auguste Rodin in the Derby, King Of Steel won at Royal Ascot and again on Champions Day there, gaining a first Group 1. Where Kevin Stott did not gel with the owner for whatever reason, the ultra-sharp Egan, whose father John is still riding well into his 50’s when he has time between his bloodstock dealing, will be hoping his relationship with Kia lasts rather longer.

The new season also provided a big welcome back for Silvestre de Sousa, after his ban in the ultra-sensitive world of Hong Kong racing. The triple UK champion returned with a winner on his first ride at Newcastle less than a fortnight ago, and he is up to four after Varian’s Charyn, three times toiling last year in the wake of Paddington, took his chance to win the first turf flat race of the year – a Listed affair – under de Sousa.

Races like the Lockinge were immediately mentioned on his likely agenda and de Sousa, who has ridden off 8st3lb over the past year, is one of those rare creatures that can do light when a top trainer needs one. He will be hard to resist in such circumstances and might even make a play at challenging William Buick and Oisin Murphy for the title.

- TS

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.”

De Sousa teams up with Johan in search of Lincoln repeat

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Silvestre De Sousa returns to the big stage in Britain as Johan bids for more success in the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster.

Jack Channon’s seven-year-old won the season-opening showpiece back in 2022 – when he was trained by the handler’s father Mick – and will have what appears optimum conditions on Town Moor as he attempts a repeat.

De Sousa was in the saddle for that 2022 success and after a spell in Hong Kong blighted by a 10-month suspension, the three-times British champion jockey is set for his biggest mount since his UK comeback earlier this month.

“James Doyle rode him when he won (at Goodwood) last year but with him not being back, it was an obvious choice for me,” said Channon on De Sousa’s return to the saddle.

“Silvestre got on well with him the year before and it’s nice to have someone who knows the horse. He’s very straightforward, but it’s still nice to have someone who knows him.

“We know he handles cut in the ground and I think if we get a couple of dry days that will be ideal for him, just soft, good to soft will be absolutely ideal for him, but we know he handles it really soft as well so ground shouldn’t be a problem for him.”

Defending champion Migration will head to Town Moor for the Lincoln
Defending champion Migration will head to Town Moor for the Lincoln (Nigel French/PA)

A full field of 22 will head to post for the one-mile event that starts the Flat turf season and Johan is joined by defending champion Migration towards the top of the weights.

Last year’s runner-up Awaal is amongst the market leaders for Simon and Ed Crisford, while Chazzesmee is an interesting runner for Fozzy Stack having landed the Irish equivalent at the Curragh on Monday and will be attempting the double under a 5lb penalty for that success.

Fellow Irish challenger Blues Emperor was a narrow second in the Irish Cambridgeshire on his penultimate start and represents Johnny Murtagh, with Karl Burke’s track-and-trip winner Liberty Lane and Charlie Johnston’s Balmoral winner The Gatekeeper other names of note.

Irish Lincolnshire third Raadobarg and John and Thady Gosden’s Mostabshir, were the key names not declared on Thursday morning for the £150,000 event.

De Sousa withdraws Hong Kong appeal

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Silvestre de Sousa has withdrawn his appeal against a 10-month ban imposed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club earlier this month.

The former UK champion jockey was handed the lengthy suspension having pleaded guilty, along with fellow rider Vagner Borges, to breaching rule 59 (3), which states “no jockey shall bet, or facilitate the making of a bet, or have any interest in a bet, on any race or any contingency relating to a race meeting”.

A press release from the Honk Kong Jockey Club at the time stated that Borges “had an interest in a bet” on his mount Young Brilliant in a race at Happy Valley on April 26, with De Sousa having “facilitated” that bet.

The statement added that “there was no evidence before the stewards that Borges and De Sousa had ridden their horses in the respective race with any intention other than to obtain the best possible placing for their mounts”.

Silvestre de Sousa has been champion jockey three times in the UK
Silvestre de Sousa has been champion jockey three times in the UK (Julian Herbert/PA)

However, the stewards also underlined “it is fundamental to the integrity of racing that jockeys are not permitted to bet or to have an interest in a bet”.

De Sousa’s solicitor Harry Stewart Moore confirmed the Brazilian would be appealing, but on Monday the HKJC announced the rider would now not contest the ban.

A statement read: “The stewards have approved an application from jockey S de Sousa to withdraw the appeal lodged by him against the severity of a 10 month disqualification from 12 May 2023 to 11 March 2024 (both dates inclusive), imposed by the stipendiary stewards on 12 May 2023 for a breach of Rule 59 (3).

“The stewards further directed that the appeal deposit be refunded.”

De Sousa set to appeal against 10-month suspension

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Silvestre de Sousa intends to appeal against a 10-month suspension imposed by the Hong Kong Kong Jockey Club on Friday.

The three-times British champion jockey and fellow rider Vagner Borges both pleaded guilty to breaching rule 59 (3), which states “no jockey shall bet, or facilitate the making of a bet, or have any interest in a bet, on any race or any contingency relating to a race meeting”.

According to a press release from HKJC, Borges “had an interest in a bet” on his mount Young Brilliant in a race at Happy Valley on April 26, with De Sousa having “facilitated” that bet.

The statement added that “there was no evidence before the stewards that Borges and De Sousa had ridden their horses in the respective race with any intention other than to obtain the best possible placing for their mounts”.

Silvestre de Sousa intends to appeal against his suspension
Silvestre de Sousa intends to appeal against his suspension (Julian Herbert/PA)

However, the stewards also underlined “it is fundamental to the integrity of racing that jockeys are not permitted to bet or to have an interest in a bet”.

De Sousa was banned for 10 months, which means he will be sidelined until March 12, 2024, but the rider intends to appeal the decision.

His solicitor Harry Stewart Moore confirmed: “I’m instructed that he will be appealing it.”

Borges was suspended for 12 months, ruling him out until May 12, 2024.

De Sousa moved to Hong Kong last September after riding as a freelance due to his retainer with King Power Racing not being renewed at the start of 2022.

De Sousa handed 10-month ban by Hong Kong Jockey Club

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Silvestre de Sousa has been suspended for 10 months after pleading guilty to a betting charge on Friday.

The three-times British champion jockey pleaded guilty alongside fellow rider Vagner Borges, who was banned for 12 months by the Hong Kong Jockey Club stewards. Both suspensions begin immediately, with De Sousa sidelined until March 12, 2024 and Borges until May 12, 2024.

Both riders were found in breach of rule 59 (3), which states “no jockey shall bet, or facilitate the making of a bet, or have any interest in a bet, on any race or any contingency relating to a race meeting”.

Silvestre De Sousa is a three-times British champion jockey (
Silvestre De Sousa is a three-times British champion jockey (Julian Herbert/PA)

According to a press release from HKJC, Borges “had an interest in a bet” on his mount Young Brilliant in a race at Happy Valley on April 26, with De Sousa having “facilitated” that bet.

The statement added that “there was no evidence before the stewards that Borges and De Sousa had ridden their horses in the respective race with any intention other than to obtain the best possible placing for their mounts”.

However, the stewards also underlined “it is fundamental to the integrity of racing that jockeys are not permitted to bet or to have an interest in a bet”.

De Sousa moved to Hong Kong last September after riding as a freelance due to his retainer with King Power Racing not being renewed at the start of 2022.