Roger Varian

   On a bonanza day for the TDN Rising Stars, KHK Racing Ltd's Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) swooped to conquer in Sunday's feature G1 Cazoo St Leger at Doncaster. Settled in mid-division early by David Egan, the Roger Varian-trained 9-2 joint-second favourite who captured the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot June 15 was delivered wide in the straight to overhaul the 11-8 market-leader New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the supplemented Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) approaching the furlong pole. Staying on strongly to the line, the bay...

Breeze-up king Willie Browne, who sold G1 1000 Guineas heroine Speciosa (Ire), G1 Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris (Ire) and many more top-notchers, is allowing himself to believe that recent graduate Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) could be the real deal after he coasted to an effortless victory at Haydock on Thursday. The 76-year-old bought Sakheer for $65,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sales in 2021 before producing the colt to top the Arqana Breeze-up Sale in May of this year. Sakheer was bought by Oliver St Lawrence for...

KHK Racing's once-raced 2-year-old colt Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}--Shortmile Lady {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}), who shaped with a deal of promise when posting a debut second going six furlongs at Windsor last month, was a class above his rivals in Thursday's Auction Finance EBF Novice S. over the same trip at Haydock and attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with a mightily impressive display of raw power. Swiftly into stride for an early advantage, the 1-2 favourite was untroubled from halfway and extended clear in hand to easily rout Acai (Ire)...

Following a record 2021 season, the Henry Cecil Open Weekend will be held Sept. 17-18 at Newmarket. Each September, racing and equine enthusiasts descend on British racing's headquarters for a behind-the-scenes look at Britain's best-known racing yards. Last year featured several training yards, including George Boughey and Harry Eustace, Charlie Fellowes, James Ferguson, Roger Varian and Simon & Ed Crisford. The highest number of yards opened to the public in 2021, and record crowds raised £60,000 for the event's chosen charity partners. The 2022 Henry Cecil Open Weekend will continue...

Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Ambivalent {Ire}, by Authorized {Ire}), best known for taking the scalp of Snowfall (Jpn) in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp last season, has been retired to the paddocks after suffering a setback in training. One of the most talented horses Roger Varian has ever trained, Teona went on to finish third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf behind Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Del Mar last term, but had yet to reappear this season. Varian revealed on Friday that Teona, owned by Ali...

Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase was staged over 14 furlongs, but it took a pixel study for the judge to call it as TDN Rising Star Eldar Eldarov (GB) inched out Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) to continue the fine week for Dubawi (Ire). KHK Racing's unbeaten colt had launched his season with a win over 10 furlongs on Newcastle's Tapeta May 24, but Roger Varian had plumped for this staying test of all the options here and ultimately was fully justified as the £480,000 Arqana Breeze Up graduate needed every yard...

Ahmad Al Shaikh's Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) has been supplemented for £15,000 to the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot next Friday. Trained by Andrew Balding , the colt was second last out in the G1 Cazoo Derby In Memory Of Lester Piggott on June 4. Off the mark at second asking at York in August, he was second in Doncaster's Listed Flying Scotsman S. a month later and was shelved. He resumed from winter quarters with a third in the G3 Craven S. behind subsequent...

Prince Faisal's Listed Feilden S. hero Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) has suffered a 'minor setback' and will miss the G1 Cazoo Derby, trainer Roger Varian confirmed on Twitter. The colt was last seen running fourth in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Apr. 30. "Sadly, Eydon will miss the Derby at Epsom," Varian tweeted. "He has met with a minor setback which will keep him from running on Saturday. "While it is of course hugely frustrating to miss a Classic opportunity, we will look forward to the...

Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) has been confirmed to start in Saturday's G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom, according to trainer Roger Varian. "I'm pleased to say the horse is in great form and following discussions with his owner, Prince A A Faisal, we plan to run in the Derby at Epsom on Saturday and not the [G1] Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday." Kicking off the season with a runner-up finish going a mile at Newcastle in February, the dark bay took the nine-furlong Feilden S. Apr. 14...

Ralph Becket is a man who knows a thing or two about Epsom glory, given he trained Look Here (GB) (Hernando {GB}) and Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) to win the Oaks, and he will be bidding to make the Cazoo Derby breakthrough with Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was reported to have had a positive experience at the track on Monday.  Meanwhile, Roger Varian revealed that 2000 Guineas fourth Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) was not a certain starter in the Derby, despite the fact the trainer was impressed...

There was a buzz at the seaside track of Yarmouth surrounding Akhu Najla (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on Tuesday and the Roger Varian-trained half-brother to Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) did not disappoint as he became the latest TDN Rising Star in 2022. Now the 17th of that ilk for the Banstead Manor resident, KHK Racing Ltd's top-priced colt at the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 at 2.7million guineas slammed the well-regarded Gosden runner Knight of Honour (Ire) (Decorated Knight {GB}) in the Norfolk venue's QuinnBet Best Odds...

The Listed bet365 Feilden S. hero Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}), emerged from his win in good order and is still under consideration for the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas, owner Prince Faisal's racing advisor Ted Voute revealed on Wednesday. Although the Roger Varian trainee has been left in the entries for that Newmarket Classic, his long-term target remains the G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom on June 4. "I went to see him on Monday and he looked magnificent, so I relayed that information to the Prince, who is still in...