Roger Varian

The winning mare Julia Augusta (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) (lot 15) topped the Tattersalls Online April Sale when selling to Jimmy Chua for 72,000gns on Wednesday during a sale noted for its record clearance of 76%. Offered by Roger Varian's Carlburg Stables, the 5-year-old mare has won twice--once each on turf and the all-weather--and was fourth in the Listed Snowdrop Fillies' S. at Kempton last Saturday. From the family of Poet's Word (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}), she is out of a half-sister to the dam of GIII Chicago S. winner Abby...

We've been waiting so long for the proper Flat to start that it seems almost criminal to veer straight off to the other side of the world, but there was plenty of interest for breeders from this side at Rosehill in Sydney on Saturday morning.  One person who managed to stay awake past 2am to watch the highly impressive last-to-first romp of Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G3 N E Manion Cup was his breeder Henrietta Egan, who is based at Corduff Stud with her husband David.  Now...

The G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot has been put forward as the main objective for King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by his trainer Roger Varian.  Last year's G1 Champion S. hero thrived at the Berkshire venue during his three-year-old campaign, with both of his victories coming at the track. He followed up his brave second to Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Derby by winning the G2 King Edward VII S. at the royal meeting and, although having to settle for third in the...

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 Insights features the half-brother to five-time Group 1 winner Palace Pier. 17.30 Newcastle, Mdn, £11,400, 3yo, 7f 14y (AWT) MY CLOUD (IRE) (Blue Point {Ire}) is a notable newcomer for the Roger Varian stable as a half-brother to Kingman's five-times group 1 winner Palace Pier (GB) and last...

18.30 Kempton, £6,800, Mdn, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT) George Strawbridge's homebred FRIENDLY SOUL (GB) (Kingman {GB}), one of two nominees from the John and Thady Gosden stable, is a half-sister to six stakes performers headed by elite-level winners We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}). She was scratched from her intended debut at Lingfield earlier this month, having become distressed in the stalls during the loading process, and faces one dozen rivals here. Opposition includes Roger Varian trainee Lightning Touch...

David Egan is the latest jockey to have been snapped up as the number one rider for Amo Racing, with Kia Joorabchian saying the 24-year-old will help bring "long-term stability" to the team. At just 24, Egan has already scaled some of racing's peaks. He won the Saudi Cup, the world's richest race, aboard Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in 2021 and more recently enjoyed great success with trainer Roger Varian, for whom he has partnered Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}}) to St Leger successes in Britain and Ireland.  Joorabchian...

Emirates Park's Ejaabiyah (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Estijaab {Aus}, by Snitzel {Aus}) was denied a debut run with the abandonment of Yarmouth's Oct. 24 meeting, but made up for lost time and attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with a highly impressive display in Wednesday's Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice S. at Kempton. She becomes the 37th Rising Star for Frankel, whose list includes this term's G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Ylang Ylang (GB) and G2 Golden Fleece S. victor Diego Velazquez (Ire). The 6-1 chance raced along the rail in fourth through...

ARCADIA, USA -- We may be biased over here in the European edition, but for the turfistes out there, the race of this weekend is the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. Primarily there's the scintillating prospect of a rematch between the first two home in the Derby, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who between them have picked off the Irish Derby, Irish Champion S., King Edward VII S., and Champion S. since Epsom.  To that duo we can add the top-rated horse...

Amo Racing's G1 Champion S. victor King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has been given the go ahead to travel and contest the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita next weekend. According to Amo's Kia Joorabchian, the massive grey is likely for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, of which the Champion S. was a "Win and You're In" on QIPCO British Champions Day. "We've been monitoring him all week, I've spoken to Roger [Varian] almost every day and I went to see him this week," Joorabchian told Nick Luck's Daily Podcast...

The GI Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 4 remains under consideration for Amo Racing's G1 QIPCO Champion S. winner  King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}). "He appears to have come out of the race physically in good shape, but he would have had a hard race yesterday and we can't ignore that. We just have to see how he is over the next week," said the colt's trainer Roger Varian.  "I know Kia is very keen on the Breeders' Cup anyway, in general, and if he could get a good...

Ascot is really where it all began for Frankie Dettori and after Saturday's opening salvo of QIPCO Champions Day it looked to have already given that farewell gift, but there was one final blessing to be bestowed on its favourite son as Amo Racing's King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Eldacar {GB}, by Verglas {Ire}) prevailed in the G1 QIPCO Champion S., a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. As deep into the feature 10-furlong contest as the final 100 yards, the glorious sign-off looked unlikely to...

G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will be offered during the Tattersalls December Mare Sale from Dec. 4-7. In foal to Frankel (GB), the 5-year-old daughter of G1 Pretty Polly S. victress Ambivalent (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) is a half-sister to G2 Prix Hocquart hero Al Hilalee (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Teona, from the family of G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Total Gallery (Ire) (Namid {GB}) was a 280,000gns purchase out of the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. Also third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf,...