Roger Varian

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...

As statements of intent go, the results for Charlie Appleby's stable over recent weeks speak loudly as to his determination to retain the trainers' championship in 2022. Twenty-three runners have emerged from Moulton Paddocks in the last fortnight, and 13 of them have returned home as winners, most importantly Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the champion 2-year-old in Europe last year whose triumph return in the G3 Craven S. got the season off on a proper footing. Of that baker's dozen, four were by the trainer's reliable old friend...

Denied a clear passage on debut when tackling a mile on Newcastle's Tapeta in December, Eydon was an eye-catching third but arguably may well have won had fortune smiled on him before going back over the same course and distance Feb. 19. Sent off the 4-9 favourite, the homebred was denied late by Oceania Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}) on that occasion and had not offered a compelling reason why he should turn over the likes of the Listed Washington Singer S. winner and G2 Superlative S. runner-up Masekela and the...

Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who upset Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Prix Vermeille in September but bypassed the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on account of the ground, will be cross-entered in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the GI Turf at Del Mar, said trainer Roger Varian. "It's always been the plan to take Teona to the Breeders' Cup since we defected from the Arc," the trainer said. "She'll be entered in the Fillies and Mares, but she'll also have...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features a daughter of the Group 3-placed Sivoliere (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). 1.23 Yarmouth, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, f, 8f 3yT A CAPPELLA (GB) (Frankel {GB}) debuts in an intriguing contest for Lord Lloyd-Webber and John and Thady Gosden and is a daughter of the G3 Prix...