More Group 1 success for Varian & De Sousa

Charyn made it four wins from five starts in 2024 when stretching clear to record a three lengths victory in the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois on Sunday. The grey had a good level of form as a three year old but has improved markedly this term winning the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier this summer. Always going well under Silvestre De Sousa, once he took over approaching the final furlong, the race was over as a contest. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot (19th October) is the long-term target and it remains to be seen whether he will return to France for the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp next month in the meantime. 

Interestingly, Roger Varian has trained ten Pattern winners this season - 3 at the highest level - and De Sousa has ridden seven of them. It has been a memorable campaign for the Brazilian who returned from the Far East under a cloud. 'Stable jockey' James Doyle has only partnered two of the ten, with Jack Mitchell also contributing. 

Inspiral was bidding for third successive win in the one mile contest at Deauville but never looked like making history. The Cheveley Park Stud owned filly was slowly into stride and even when she made up ground on the outside, the five year old's finishing effort was laboured. Beaten over three lengths, she doesn't look the same mare this year. Kieran Shoemark supporters will have had a wry smile on their faces while watching the action unfold.

There were two runners in the Top 40 Prospects on Saturday. I must confess I am not a fan of the Shergar Cup concept - largely due to the fact it is a team event, plus the horses don't carry their owners' silks which makes it more difficult to identify them. Those feelings weren't softened by the ride Cracksking received in the twelve furlongs handicap. James Fanshawe's gelding is usually ridden close to the pace - on this occasion the four year old was dropped out in rear and never given a chance to feature. In the circumstances, he did well to fill fourth position.

Indelible hasn't had much luck since winning on her reappearance at Doncaster in the spring. Ralph Beckett's filly was drawn on the wrong side in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot when not beaten far in fourth. Since then, she filled second position in a Listed contest at Sandown on Eclipse day and did the same again over the weekend. Heavily supported for the Listed Dick Hern Fillies Stakes at Haydock Park, the Shamardal filly was drawn on the inside and, having held here position, appeared to be going strongly. Hector Crouch's mount had to wait for a gap to emerge and while it can be argued she had sufficient time to reel in the winner Choisya, she was tightened up late on by Simon and Ed Crisford's runner. Beaten a length and a half, she isn't getting the rub of the green at present and will hopefully gain compensation in the Autumn. 

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