3 minute read
Charyn’s fine season continued with a power-packed performance in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.
A striking winner of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, the Roger Varian -trained grey was sent off the well-supported 9/10 market leader to make it back-to-back Group 1 victories in the hands of Silvestre De Sousa.
The top-level mile contest wasn't devoid of early drama as Richard Hannon's Group 3 Jersey Stakes winner Haatem was withdrawn late on.
However, there was little drama involved for those backers of the favourite, who ultimately never looked like being troubled by his seven rivals. Big Rock took up his customary position at the head of affairs and with Inspiral once again fluffing her lines out of the stalls, it was all pretty straightforward for the Classic-winning rider Silvestre De Sousa.
Charyn travelled strongly in the slipstream of Big Rock and with the minimum of fuss, he eased to the front. A sparkling turn of foot saw him immediately skip a few lengths clear and although both Inspiral and Quddwah attempted to peg him back towards the middle of the pack, neither were capable of landing a blow on the winner, who eventually won by a commanding three lengths.
The French 2000 Guineas hero Metropolitan flew home to deny two-time Prix Jacques le Marois winner Inspiral of the runner-up spot by a head, with the unbeaten Quddwah finishing a further head behind in fourth on his first start at Group 1 level.
"It was a comfortable watch," said an emotional Roger Varian on Sky Sports Racing. "He's a great horse and seems to be getting better and better."
"I don't know what to say. He makes me cry this horse, he's such a beautiful horse."
"He's got a great mind and is very relaxed, he makes my job easy, and Silvestre is striking up a good relationship with him. I'm delighted for Nurlan Bizakov and his family. They put so much into the game."
Charyn's Queen Anne success earned him an automatic spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile and although Varian was keen to stress it was a nice option to have, the Newmarket-based handler expects his next target to lie closer to home.
He added: "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."
Inspiral, who was being ridden by Ryan Moore for the first time, lost plenty of ground leaving the stalls and trainer John Gosden was quick to point out the level of her performance.
Gosden told Sky Sports Racing: "I don't think you can give horses of that class a six- or seven-length start, but she did,"
"She's never been quick out of the gate, but you won't get away with it in a Group 1 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."