Roger Varian

The 41st running of the G1 Mile Championship was a salty one, and when the dust settled, it was Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) who came out on top to claim his first victory at the highest level in the autumn highlight at Kyoto on Sunday. The fourth betting choice faced a line up which included defending champion Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), who had last been seen in a runner-up effort in the G1 Yasuda Kinen, as well as European multiple Group 1 winner Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Soul...

Roger Varian will join British-based trainers Charlie Appleby, Saeed bin Suroor, John and Thady Gosden and Simon and Ed Crisford on the Godolphin roster for 2025.  The news was revealed by the Racing Post on Saturday that Varian would receive four yearlings on behalf of Godolphin ahead of the new season.  The support comes as a timely boost for Varian, who lost high profile owners Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and Amo Racing this year.  Godolphin have previously had horses in training with Varian, highlighted by Group 1 winner Belardo,...

There was a sense of inevitability in the lead-up to Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and for the vast majority of the mile feature as Nurlan Bizakov's Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Futoon {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) capped a near-perfect season at Ascot. Adding to his G1 Queen Anne Stakes and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois successes, the 13-8 favourite had only Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) to concern him late on but ultimately subdued his latest challenger to record a two-length success. Needing the occasional niggle from Silvestre De...

Amo Racing's King Of Steel, who provided Frankie Dettori with a fairytale ending to his riding career in Britain by winning the G1 Champion Stakes this time last year, has been retired to Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland. "It was one of the most memorable moments of my racing career," Dettori said. "King Of Steel excelled and gave me the perfect Ascot finale. I have no doubt he'll become a stallion to be reckoned with, and I'm deeply grateful to him for helping me close my Ascot career in such an...

Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Sallaal (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Nahrain {GB}, by Selkirk), a Roger Varian-trained half-brother to this year's G1 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and multiple Group 1-winning globetrotter Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), went postward as the 11-4 second favourite for Tuesday's British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Great Yarmouth and registered a half-length debut victory in the seven-furlong contest. 2nd-Great Yarmouth, £9,950, Nov, 10-15, 2yo, 7f 3yT, 1:28.12, sf. SALLAAL (IRE) (c, 2, Frankel {GB}--Nahrain {GB} {G1SW-Fr, GISW-US, SW-Eng & GSP-Ire, $1,041,961}, by Selkirk) recovered from...

Multiple Group 1-winning miler Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will retire at the end of the year and stand his first season for Sumbe at Haras de Montfort et Preaux in 2025. A fee for the Roger Varian trainee will be announced later. "I am delighted to announce that Charyn, the leading miler in Europe and impressive winner of this year's G1 Queen Anne Stakes and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, will retire at the end of the racing season to become the fifth Group 1 winner on Sumbe's stallion...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has removed his horses from leading Newmarket trainer Roger Varian, bringing an end to an association that had lasted nine years. The news comes after Amo Racing's Kia Joorabchian also removed his horses--including Group 1 winner King Of Steel--from the Newmarket handler back in May.  Varian has trained many high-class horses for Sheikh Obaid, headed by Postponed, who won the Dubai Sheema Classic, Coronation Cup and Juddmonte International back in 2016. Revealing the news, Varian said, "I can confirm that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum...

Classic heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is targeting the 10-furlong G1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood next month, according to trainer Roger Varian. Third in the G3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes in April, the bay delivered in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas in May, before running on to be fourth in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot behind Friday's G1 Falmouth Stakes victress Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio). "She's great and she is going to go to Goodwood for the Nassau Stakes," said the Newmarket handler of the Sheikh Ahmed Al...

Wednesday saw the draw made for Friday's two group 1 contests at Royal Ascot, with the 10 fillies set to contest the Coronation S. headed by Ballydoyle's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer (Justify) and Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Opera Singer, who was returning from a setback when third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, has drawn an outside stall in nine for the mile feature while the Roger Varian-trained Newmarket Classic heroine is in seven. James Doyle takes over from Silvestre De...

Royal Ascot Tuesday got underway with an admirably professional Queen Anne display from Nurlan Bizakov's Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Futoon {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) as he finally plundered his Group 1 on the biggest stage. Runner-up in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury last month, the grey tracked that race's winner Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) throughout the early stages but whereas he wasn't able to get to him previously this time he was already rolling by with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. Out in the clear under Silvestre De Sousa chased...

Roger Varian has reported 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) to be in fine spirits and on course to run in the Coronation S. 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 (Ire) (Caravaggio) 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...

Great Yarmouth's £40,000 British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' S., which witnessed a 'TDN Rising Star' display in the extended five-furlong dash last year, played host to another as Cheveley Park Stud's homebred 2-year-old filly Spherical (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}--Spatial {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) powered to an impressive success in this year's renewal. In winning, she provided her second-crop sire with a third Rising Star in five days. Spherical, debuting in a field reduced by half to just three contenders, stalked both rivals in third through halfway. Easing into...