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.
It’s been an exceptional season for Newmarket trainer Roger Varian and his 2-year-old team. Let’s rewind back to the start of the season. On the 18th May at Newmarket racecourse Roger Varian introduced a lovely looking Bated Breath filly in the name of Daahyeh. Born 29 January 2017 and sold for £75,000 at the 2018 Goffs yearling sales. The money was down as Daahyeh opened up 4s but that soon went, and she was sent off 3/1 joint-favourite for her racecourse debut. The result was never in doubt as Daahyeh beat the Mark Johnston filly Raffle Prize. That was an impressive performance considering we didn’t know Raffle Prize would turn out to be a 113 rated filly. As for Daahyeh her next start would see her win the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and go on to finish second in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes and the Moyglare Stakes before adding the Group 2 Shadwell Rockfel Stakes to an impressive first season. Daahyeh wasn’t finished as Roger Varian gave her the chance to finish the season in style as Daahyeh traveled across the pond to take on the best in the Breeders Cup Juvenile fillies Grade 1 turf race at Santa Anita. It was a valiant effort by Daayeh who ran a fantastic race to finish second to the American filly Sharing in what was a brilliant debut season and I can’t wait to see her back out as a 3-year-old next year. The following Friday another Roger Varian 2-year-old superstar was about to be unleashed at Haydock Park. Bought for 140,000 Guineas at the 2018 October Yearling Sales by Roger Varian for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.
Pierre Lapin must have been setting the gallops alight as the Cappella Sansevero colt was sent off even-money favourite for his debut. Pierre Lapin quickened clear in the final furlong showing why he was such short odds on debut. A string of significant entries followed but no sign of the Varian colt turning up. Finally 120 days later when Roger Varian was happy with Pierre Lapin he lined up for the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury where his half brother Harry Angel was victorious in 2016. Another easy victory here as Pierre Lapin showed his class and won again at odds of 9/4. The futures bright and I can see him being a real star next season when he fills out and learns to settle. My first Roger Varian 2-year-old to follow also comes with a big reputation and a touching story. DELTA’S ROYALTY has a lot to live up to being the only foal produced by the sadly departed American superstar Royal Delta. Owner Mr Benjamin Leon Jr bought Royal Delta for $8.5 Million at the Keeneland sales in 2011, and she went on to win six Grade one races in America. As for Pedigrees, they don’t come much bigger than Delta’s Royalty after the mare Royal Delta was bred to the brilliant Galileo, but it came at a price as on the 1st February 2017 Royal Delta gave birth to Delta’s Royalty only to die due to complications which must have been heartbreaking for owner and connections. By all accounts, Delta’s Royalty has impressed in her work and the fact she had an entry for the Group 1 Fillies Mile this season and has been given an early entry for the Group 1 Irish Oaks next July gives the impression it won’t be long before she gets off the mark. Roger Varian likes to wait till he has his horses spot on before they hit the track and even though Delta’s Royalty may not be much of a price I really hope she can give owner Benjamin Leon Jr another brilliant filly like her mother Royal Delta was. Thanks for reading and look out for part two of Roger Varian's horses to follow.