Newmarket trainer Roger Varian enjoyed a highly successful campaign last year, sending out 133 winners and collecting £2,683,530 in prize money. The yard has already hit the ground running in 2022 with three impressive winners at Newmarket’s Craven meeting, and the team at Carlburg Stables look on course for another big season ahead. Our expert editor has highlighted 10 names you should firmly keep on side this flat season below, alongside SkyBet‘s new customer offer of Bet £5 Get £20 In Free Bets.
Al Husn
AL HUSN improved on each of her three starts as a juvenile last term and could turn out to be a well-handicapped individual off a mark of 82. Ultimately disappointing after being well supported on debut at Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire meeting, the daughter of Dubawi faired significantly better on her following start, finishing strongly in fourth having been slowly away over the 7f trip. Stepped up to a mile on her final two-year-old appearance, Roger Varian’s filly shed her maiden tag in taking fashion, quickening away in the closing stages to run out a comfortable winner under jockey Jim Crowley.
A half-brother to stablemate and Melrose Stakes runner up Moshaawer, Al Husn should have little trouble in staying beyond one mile in time and is fancied to make a big impact from her current mark when she makes her seasonal return.
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Ameynah
Runner-up on her first and only start as a two-year-old at Newmarket, AMEYNAH returned over course and distance at the Craven meeting with a dominant performance to get off the mark in maiden company. Sent off the even-money favourite, the daughter of Exceed and Excel travelled noticeably well in the hands of David Egan before unleashing a smart turn of foot to quicken away from William Haggas’ newcomer Enshrine in the final furlong.
That midweek victory prompted many bookmakers to cut her odds considerably for the 1000 Guineas in May and whilst Ameynah is not certain to turn up in that particular Classic, she is very much a filly to look forward to and can continue her progression when stepped up to one mile.
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Divine Jewel
Connections will be expecting big things from DIVINE JEWEL this season as she embarks on her three-year-old campaign this season. Twice raced as a two-year-old, the filly produced an eye-catching opening effort at Nottingham over the extended mile last September. Settled towards the rear on that occasion, Divine Jewel kept on well on the far rail despite encountering plenty of traffic in the closing stages and was only narrowly denied by half a length at the line.
A line can be drawn through her below-par effort at Redcar on her final start as a juvenile, as it came just fourteen days after that encouraging Nottingham display. Bred to be very useful, the three-year-old holds lofty entries in the Oaks and Irish equivalent and is clearly a filly held in the highest regard.
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Dragon Symbol
Recently acquired by the Newmarket handler, DRAGON SYMBOL ought to be capable of landing a decent contest this season for new connections after going close on several occasions last season. Formerly trained by Archie Watson, the four-year-old colt burst onto the sprinting scene last season after racking up four impressive victories across the all-weather and turf. Pitched into Group company on his next six starts, Dragon Symbol was unfortunate not to add to that tally when taking his form to a new level, finishing runner-up on four outings including in the Commonwealth Cup and July Cup at Royal Ascot and Newmarket respectively.
The flying grey colt reached the frame in the Nunthorpe Stakes towards the end of the campaign and although he was below his best in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes when last seen, there is every reason to think Roger Varian’s new inmate is capable of getting his head in front in Group class this year and the four-year-old is an exciting addition to the team at Carlburg Stables.
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Eldar Eldarov
Purchased for £480,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Ups at Doncaster last May, expectations were obviously high when ELDAR ELDAROV made his debut for connections over a mile at Nottingham last October. Sent off the 13/8 favourite, Roger Varian’s colt travelled powerfully into the lead two furlongs from home before stretching away from his seven rivals to run out an effortless winner by five lengths.
Smartly bred, the exciting son of Dubawi is well entered up this season and holds an early season target in York’s Dante in May. The form of his opening maiden success is open to question at this stage, however, the three-year-old was seriously impressive that day and looks a horse of immense potential for the season ahead.
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Eshaada
It would be no surprise to see lightly raced four-year-old ESHAADA take another step forward this season after enjoying a productive campaign at three. A winner at Nottingham on her only start as a juvenile, the filly made an immediate impact at Listed level, winning on her opening start as a three-year-old at Newbury by a neck. Following that narrow success, Eshaada finished a tremendous second in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot before disappointing in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York.
Despite that underwhelming performance on the Knavesmire, Roger Varian’s talented filly bounced back to winning ways in the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot, gamely seeing off the challenge of Albaflora in the final strides to register a first success at Group 1 level.
Whilst she may have to improve again to win in Group company this season, Eshaada remains unexposed after just five career starts and is certainly still open to plenty of improvement going forward.
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First Officer
Although he failed to get his head in front in two outings last season, FIRST OFFICER is still one to keep firmly on side after making an encouraging debut for the yard at Newmarket last October over 7f. Racing towards the rear of the field, First Officer picked up well once the penny had eventually dropped and made eye-catching late headway in the final couple of furlongs under hands and heels riding from Ryan Moore.
Expected to go well in a warm novice contest at Kempton on his next outing over a mile, Roger Varian’s charge could never land a telling blow and ultimately finished seventh. If rediscovering the promise shown in his opening display at HQ, the three-year-old colt is not one to write off for his powerful connections and he will likely come into his own over ten furlongs and beyond this season.
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Legend Of Dubai
LEGEND OF DUBAI found winning difficult in his outings as a two-year-old when finding the frame on three separate occasions, however, Roger Varian’s son of Dubawi overcame an injury and a 348-day absence when making a winning return as a three-year-old last August at Ffos Las. Sent off at prohibitive odds over twelve furlongs, Legend Of Dubai came well clear of the field with fellow market rival Golden Crusader and ultimately ran out a cosy winner ahead of Andrew Balding’s charge.
Rated 85, handicaps look the obvious route for Roger Varian’s talented four-year-old this campaign and he could prove to be a very well treated colt in the coming months for connections.
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Teona
Highly talented filly TEONA came good in the second half of the season last year, claiming Listed honours in comfortable fashion at Windsor before overturning talented filly Snowfall and gaining her revenge on Aidan O’Brien’s star in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille Stakes at Parislongchamp in September.
Following her successful French voyage, Teona took her place in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar in November and while Roger Varian’s filly seemed unbalanced around the Californian circuit, she ran a tremendous race to finish third behind Irish challenger Broome and Godolphin’s Yibir despite encountering interference turning for home.
The four-year-old filly is likely to return in May in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York before being potentially aimed at the Group 1 King George at Ascot in July. Teona could develop into an even better filly this term and it would be no surprise to see her add to her previous victory at Group 1 level this coming season.
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Subastar
Seemingly unfancied in the market on debut at Newmarket last September, SUBASTAR overcame inexperience to make a winning start for connections over one mile. Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, the well-related Sea The Stars colt raced close up under jockey Andrea Atzeni before staying on best of all in the closing stages to see off the challenge of market leader Dawn Of Liberation. That opening success looks a particularly useful effort, considering the second, third and fourth have all recorded subsequent victories since.
Subastar has all the right credentials to make up into a very smart three-year-old this season for connections and with preliminary entries already in The Derby and Irish Derby, Roger Varian’s top-class colt is certainly one to look forward to and is clearly held in the highest regard.
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