Roger Varian: Its Been An Exceptional Season (Part Two)

The first part of my Roger Varian 2-year-old review I mentioned an unraced 2-year-old filly who I thought would be making a name for herself in the future. Delta’s Royalty made her long-awaited debut at the beginning of the month and if you were quick off the mark a tasty 7/2 was available the night before, the Galileo filly ended up 4/5 favourite at the off and made a winning debut despite surviving a steward’s enquiry after running green the final furlong and hanging left. Delta’s Royalty will come on plenty for that and should be one to follow next season. 

Roger Varian unleashed three nice 2-year-olds towards the end of July. 

The first a Dansili filly called Stylistique who made her debut in a Maiden Stakes race at Newbury. Stylistique was well-supported on debut and backed into 5/2 favourite for her debut and despite running green it was a promising debut, I thought it was only a matter of time before she got her head in front. 

The phrase always the bridesmaid and never the bride springs to mind with Stylistique after she filled the runners-up spot three times in her next five races. That said, it’s fair to say she has bumped into a few nice types. A superb second in the Group 2 Shadwell Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket when running on late and only beaten by her stablemate Daahyeh her best effort in a promising first season.

I hope she can get the win she deserves next season and I won’t be giving up on her just yet. 

The July Ascot meeting saw Roger unleash a couple of his big guns. Queen Daenerys is a superbly bred Frankel filly who is owned by H H SH Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa and bred by Coolmore. Ryan Moore was on board the 6/1 shot for her debut and despite running green she ran a race full of promise. (For all of you who don't watch Game of Thrones (me included) Queen Daenerys is a major character is this acclaimed production).

The second start saw William Buick take over and Queen Daenerys won a shade cosy from the nice John Gosden filly Wasaayef. 

The Group 1 Fillies Mile was Queen Daenerys next stop and ran a great race to finish sixth. 

One who will also improve next season and not to be taken lightly.

William Buick said: ''Queen Daenerys did it nicely and is a nice prospect for next year. The trainer will decide if she runs again this year - Oliver St Lawrence, spokesman for owner Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.''

The second race on the card saw a Night Of Thunder colt make his debut. How Molatham was allowed to go off a 14/1 shot in a seven runner race is beyond me, I imagine it was thought he needed the run but that wasn’t the case as Molatham ran a tremendous race to just get beat by the Richard Hannon colt Mums Tipple. 

He confirmed the promise of his debut run when winning the Class 2 Convivial Stakes at York and picking up the cool £43,000 prize money to go with it. 

A win in the Flying Scotsman Listed Stakes followed before a fourth in the Dubai Autumn Stakes in what was an amazing first season for the Roger Varian colt. 

Molatham will be contesting at a high-level next season. 

The last Roger Varian two-year-old horse I want to mention is an unexposed Kingman colt who made a promising debut at Sandown at the end of August.

LORD CAMPARI was bought by Roger Varian for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum at the Tattersalls sales from the 2018 October Yearling Sale Book 1. The Bay colt was born 20 March 2017 and cost a cool 350.000 Guineas. Lord Campari was priced 11/2 for his debut after attracting some late support. 

A smart break and up with the pace although pulling in the early stages and pretty green, the Kingman colt was always in contention without given a hard time by jockey Andrea Atzeni. 

A pleasing debut but nothing spectacular in a decent little race. 

A couple of significant entries followed including the Group 1 Dewhurst makes me think Roger has a nice colt on his hands. 

Lord Campari hasn’t run since his promising debut and is one to look out for next season. 

Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas to you all. 

Related post: Read Part 1: Roger Varian It's Been an Exceptional Year

Pictured: Daahyeh, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.