Trainer Roger Varian was moved to tears as Charyn posted strong claims as Europe’s leading miler with a power-packed performance on Sunday [Aug 11] at Deauville in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois.
Despite a strong-looking field for France’s mile championship, the four-year-old son of Dark Angel was sent off a shade of odds-on under Silvestre de Sousa before completing back-to-back G1 wins following his Royal Ascot success in the Queen Anne Stakes.
Three lengths adrift was French Guineas winner Metropolitan, with Breeders’ Cup winner Inspiral claiming third after a slow break and Quddwah forfeiting his unbeaten record in fourth.
Charyn continues to climb theThoroughbred Racing Commentary Global Rankings, where he now stands at #13 (from #49, +178pt).
“It was quite an straightfoward race to watch,” said Newmarket-based Varian. “Charyn is incredible and seems to be improving all the time. He's magnificent! I don't know what to say – he's made me cry.
“He's such a beautiful horse – his temperament makes life very easy easy for me,” the trainer went on. “He really has an exceptional mindset. I hope he stays in top form and that we can enjoy him for a little longer.”
For owner-breeder Nurlan Bizakov, this was a second G1 victory at Deauville on successive weekends following Lazzat in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.
“Charyn is a champion and I’m sure he is the best miler in Europe,” commented the Kazakh oil baron. “He has the option of the Prix du Moulin in September before going to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October.”
The Deauville feature is a ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, which offers a lucrative end-of-season target.
Meanwhile, a change of jockey to world #1 Ryan Moore did little to improve a frustrating five-year-old season for Inspiral, though the Breeders’ Cup winner did well to finish third after fluffing the start. Her downward slide continues on the rankings, where the mare is now #38 (from #29, -41pt).
According to reports, she is likely to have her swansong in the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket in October.
Also on Sunday, Al Riffa (#88 from #577, +323pt) advertised City Of Troy’s Eclipse Stakes form with a five-length demolition in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten on Sunday.
The Arc, possibly via a trial, is the primary target for Al Riffa, who was scoring for the first time since his two-year-old days. However, he made City Of Troy pull out all the stops at Sandown – and collateral form explains why the Ballydoyle colt moves up to #4 (from #6, +21pt).
Chief mover over the weekend at Saratoga was Carl Spackler (#32 from #145, +226pt) with his G1 breakthrough at Saratoga, while the Arlington Million – Arlington in name only, as it is now run at Colonial Downs – went to Godolphin’s much-travelled Nations Pride (#18 from #68, +163pt).
While this was hardly the most competitive event for the status, the five-year-old was recording his fourth G1 success – two in the States plus one each in Canada and Germany. He has won stakes races in five different countries.
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