Roger Varian

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...

Roger Varian has confirmed that Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will be given the chance to join the select band of fillies to claim the 1,000 Guineas and Coronation S. when she heads to Royal Ascot for her next start. The daughter of Kingman provided the Carlburg Stables handler with his first triumph in the fillies' Classic when coming home strongly in the hands of Silvestre de Sousa earlier this month and Varian has been delighted with how she has responded since her big-race triumph at Newmarket. With no rush to...

King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is set for a spell on the sidelines having been found to be lame after his routine exercise in Newmarket on Tuesday morning. Trained by Roger Varian, King Of Steel enjoyed a productive three-year-old campaign in 2023 when his victories included the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot and the G1 Champion S. at the same course. He also filled the runner-up spot behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Derby at Epsom. His connections had held high hopes...

5th-Churchill Downs, $121,125, Msw, 5-10, 3yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:50.43, fm, 4 lengths. WEST HOLLYWOOD (c, 3, Uncle Mo--White Hot {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) began his career in Roger Varian's yard where he debuted in fourth place over the Polytrack at Kempton Park in early January. Making the switch stateside to Brad Cox, the dark bay with Lasix was a 7-2 shot here. The 3-year-old broke quickly and settled in behind the pacesetter heading into the first turn. Raring to take on the frontrunner, the colt was let loose around the...

City Of Troy (Justify) and Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) head the betting for the G1 Derby after the latest entries were released on Tuesday. Of the 69 set to run in late April, just 41 remain after the latest scratching deadline for the Classic, which will be run at Epsom on Saturday, June 1. A baker's dozen haven been entered by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore partners, anchored by City Of Troy, despite his puzzling ninth-place finish in last Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. Last season's G1 Dewhurst S....

Over the last three years Frankel (GB) and Dubawi (Ire) have handed the sires' championship back and forth between each other, and they rule supreme as the two most expensive stallions in the world this year at £350,000. While Darley's Dubawi duly provided the winner of the first British Classic of the season when Notable Speech (GB) became his fourth in that particular race - an achievement that is unrivalled in the post-war era - it was Frankel's Juddmonte friend and rival Kingman (GB) who had the bragging rights on...

Like Saturday's 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) introduced on the all-weather during the winter, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's blueblood Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) arrived late on the scene to emerge triumphant in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and cause a second weekend surprise in Newmarket's mile Classics. Coming off her debut success at Southwell in late November to finish a staying-on third in the seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury last month, the Roger Varian-trained daughter of the G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Flower Bowl...

The Roger Varian-trained Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) will bid to defy his outsider status when he lines out in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday week. The colt brings smart form to the table with a Listed win in Haydock's Ascendant S. sandwiched between creditable placed efforts behind Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) at Ascot and then on his final start of the year when second to Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Royal Lodge. A return to the Rowley Mile for the opening...