3 minute read
Roger Varian’s grey breaks his duck in Group 1 company.
The Roger Varian-trained Charyn made it seventh time lucky in Group 1 company when coming home best of all to claim the Queen Anne Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
Charyn was sent off the 100/30 favourite to go one better than when chasing home the reopposing Audience in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last-time-out and always looked to be travelling kindly in the hands of Silvestre De Sousa.
The two French raiders, Big Rock and Facteur Cheval, paved a lone burrow towards the far side, Rob Havlin attempted to make all the running on John and Thady Gosden's Lockinge hero Audience.
Charyn found himself well off the pace when second best to Audience at Newbury. However, under more prominent tactics from De Sousa, the result never looked in doubt as Roger Varian's striking grey travelled menacingly approaching the two pole.
The pair kicked for home once heading inside the two-furlong pole and although Harry Eustaces' Britannia Stakes scorer Docklands would set off in hot pursuit, it always looked likely to prove in vain. The winning margin was two-and-a-quarter-lengths, with William Haggas' talented colt Maljoom running on well to grab the third spot.
Simon and Ed Crisford 's Poker Face was pulled-up.
"It doesn't get any better, a Group 1 at Royal Ascot. I'm so delighted," said Varian, who teamed up with De Sousa to land the 1000 Guineas with Elmalka at Newmarket. "I'm really so delighted for his owner (Nurlan Bizakov), who has invested so much in the game, he's supported me for a number of years.
"I'm delighted for my team; everyone works so hard at home. It's a great day and we'll enjoy it.
"You have to say he's improved as he's got older. He ran some fine races in defeat last year, he was in the biggest races, on the top table and he didn't disgrace himself.
"He seems to have found another level of form this year. His run in the Lockinge last time was an outstanding run, and he's confirmed that today, so I'm thrilled."
A step up to a mile and a quarter is by no means beyond the realms of possibility for Charyn according to trainer Roger Varian, although the Carlburg House-based handler was quick to admit his colt is doing little wrong over the mile at present.
Varian, who was winning his thirteenth race at Royal Ascot but his first at the top level, added: "Silvestre is convinced he will stay a mile and a quarter, and I kind of agree with him, but he's not doing much wrong over a mile at the moment, so I wouldn't be in a rush to change things."
"It's a good start to the week and he deserved that, he's been great all year. He's a fine horse, very consistent and seems to be thriving. He's well entered up and we need to decide what we do with him.
"He started early, and his first race was at Doncaster in March, so I don't think we can go bang, bang, bang all summer. We would love to be back here for Champions Day later in the season, with a couple of races along the way during the summer."
Paddy Power was seemingly impressed and cut the winner from 4/1 (from 10s) for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
The runner-up Docklands looks set for a trip to Australia with trainer Harry Eustace revealing his four-year-old will work back from targets at the end of the year.
Eustace said: "He ran super. He just keeps turning up for us. He loves this track and dropping in with plenty of runners is what he really needs. He hasn't had that yet this year. The plan was to always work back from Australia at the end of the year."
