Roger Varian

Twelve years have passed since Roger Varian became a licensed trainer as the health of his much-loved former boss and mentor, Michael Jarvis, declined. One softly-spoken but calmly assured man took over from another after Varian had served a decade as Jarvis's assistant. By that stage he had clearly proved himself a worthy successor, and the rise of the Varian stable in the intervening years has only served to underline Jarvis's judgement in this regard. Last year was Varian's best to date. There haven't been many seasons during his term...

Emily Scott, who served Highclere as its assistant racing manager from 2014-2017, has been appointed to the position of director of racing. Her new duties will commence Jan. 3, 2023. Since her first stint with the organization, Scott has gained experience as communications manager for trainer Roger Varian and more recently served as racing manager for Amo Racing Limted. Emily Scott said: "I am delighted to be returning to Highclere to lead the racing team. I look forward to working closely with the trainers to get the most out of...

There was an exciting newcomer in action at Kempton on Monday as Yoshiro Kubota's Dragon Icon (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) made light work of the seven-furlong British EBF Novice S. A full-brother to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and GII Jessamine S. winner and $3million Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale sensation Aunt Pearl (Ire), the Roger Varian-trained bay travelled strongly towards the rear with the anchor down throughout the early stages. Building a head of steam in early straight, the 4-1 shot struck the front passing the furlong pole and stayed...

Classic heroine Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}), who raced most recently for Andreas Wohler and Australian Bloodstock, has been sold to Shadai Farm and will be trained by Roger Varian going forward, Wohler announced on his website. Bred by Ecurie Normandie Pur Sang, the chestnut was an €40,000 RNA at the Arqana October Yearling Sale. Raced initially by trainer Marian Falk Weissmeier and Stall Piccadilly, the filly won at second asking at Evreux in May before adding the Listed Henkel-Stutenpreis on May 14. Purchased by Australian Bloodstock, she was third...

Group 1 winner Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}--Alava {Ire}, by Anabaa) has been retired and will stand at Ballylinch Stud in Ireland in 2023. A fee will be announced in due time for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. hero and a limited number of shares will be available to breeders. Bred by Ballylinch and raced by Teme Valley Racing and Ballylinch in partnership, the Roger Varian-trained bay won the G2 Champagne S. as a juvenile and was also third at Group 1 level in both the Dewhurst S....

One of last term's leading juveniles, Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) took until Saturday to put it all together again as a 3-year-old and chose the big stage to do it on in Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. He has now punched his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in November, if connections wish to travel. Anchored in rear early by Tom Marquand after a tardy break, the 33-1 shot who had enjoyed a confidence-boosting success in Sandown's Listed Fortune...

Nurlan Bizakov's 250,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Futoon {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) ran third to Roger Varian-trained stablemate Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in last month's G2 Mill Reef S. and continued his progression with a career high in Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly. He had earlier followed up an Aug. 7 debut triumph at Haydock with a narrow defeat at Newmarket in his penultimate start later that month. The eventual winner was sent forward from an early fifth to track the leaders in...

TDN Rising Star Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) will be forced to miss Saturday's G1 Darley Dewhurst S. at Newmarket after trainer Roger Varian revealed that the G2 Mill Reef S. winner has scoped dirty. Having been supplemented for the seven-furlong feature on Monday, KHK Racing's emerging luminary will now wait until 2023 to test his Classic credentials. "This is of course very frustrating and disappointing and I am very sorry for owners KHK Racing and everyone connected with the horse," Varian posted on Twitter on Thursday. "He will be put...

It has been another banner week for the breeze-up sector, not to mention the burgeoning Bahraini participation in European racing.  Following Classic victories for Cachet (Ire), Native Trail (GB) and Eldar Eldarov (GB), more graduates of the two-year-old sales scene lifted one of last weekend's major races in Britain, the G2 Mill Reef Stakes, and also the G3 Stockholm Cup.  Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was imperious in the Mill Reef, and was the standout in a magnificent seven winners on Saturday for Roger Varian, which also included landing a Group...

KHK Racing's 2-year-old twice-raced colt Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}--Shortmile Lady {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}), a promising debut second at Windsor in August, attained 'TDN Rising Stardom' with a wide-margin demolition at Haydock on the first of this month and repeated the dose with another imperious performance in Saturday's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. at Newbury. The 4-5 favourite was alert from the stalls and found a smooth rhythm in a handy third through the early fractions of this black-type bow. Tanking forward to loom large on the bridle...

Classic winner Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has exited his G1 Cazoo St Leger victory on Sunday "in good form" according to trainer Roger Varian. The lightly raced KHK Racing Ltd. colourbearer could possibly reappear this season in the G2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day or in the Oct. 23 G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp. "He's in good form, he's come out of the race very well," said Varian. "I wouldn't rule it out [running again]. I have the option of running him again if...

   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...