Roger Varian’s Charyn confirmed the promise of his reappearance win at Doncaster when coming with a storming run to land the 2024 bet365 Mile.

Varian nominated this Group Two after his comeback success and following some creditable runs at the highest level last season, a step back up to the top grade looks likely, with Paddy Power cutting him in price to 9-2 from 10s for the Lockinge at Newbury.

Victory looked a long way off three furlongs from home, however, as Silvestre de Sousa was rowing away at the back of the pack, having left the stalls slowly. At that stage, Poker Face was just about to take over from Pogo and looked to hold all the aces, still travelling well. The veteran Lord North was also making progress from the rear over a trip short of his best but Nostrum looked a difficult ride for Ryan Moore.

By now, De Sousa was in full flight and the 9-4 favourite came with a withering run down the centre of the track, getting up to beat Poker Face by a length and a quarter.

“He was slow from the gates, so Silvestre had no option but to drop in, but the horse came home very strong didn’t he, he’s a fighter and he’s a good horse,” said Varian.

“He was a good winner on the line and although it took him a while to get there and get on top, it’s a tough track and the ground is holding and it’s hard work. He’s finished strong and we’re very pleased. He’s always been a genuine horse and looking back to last year, although he didn’t win, he contested the biggest races and wasn’t disgraced. He looks to have stepped up a level this year and hopefully he can continue.

“This horse is so laid-back, he works nicely at home but he’s never flashy and he never streaks three or four lengths clear in a gallop, that’s not the type of horse he is.

“He carries a lot of condition and I always think he needs a run, but he’s got a great constitution and he’s finding plenty on the track. Hopefully he continues to do so and he will have tougher tasks ahead now, but he’s doing well and we’re very pleased.

“He chased home Paddington three times (last year). He was fourth in the Irish Guineas and had some traffic that day, he was third in the St James’s Palace and he finished third in the Sussex Stakes – and each time he was beaten three or four lengths.

“So, he was running consistently but he was bumping into the very best of his generation. I don’t know how much he has improved though, because on his best bits of his form last year, you would give him every chance today. I think we will really find out how much he has improved when he goes into Group One company next time.”

On future plans, he added: “He’s entered in the Lockinge and that looks the obvious place to go, it’s three weeks from now. Winning this race and winning at Doncaster, he deserves to take his chance there. It will be tougher again than today but Silvestre said we could step up in trip one day as well.

“He deserves to be entered in the top mile races and he might end up going beyond a mile at some point. But it will be a mile for now and he deserves to be in the Lockinge and deserves to be in the Queen Anne.”

De Sousa said: “Today was much more tactical than Doncaster but I just had to be aware of the good horses around me and he’s a nice horse going forward who deserves to win that kind of race. He’s a bit more confident after getting his head in front at Doncaster and hopefully he can come forward again.

“Roger and the owner have given me this nice opportunity and I’m delighted.”

#horseracing #sandownpark #horses #silvestredesousa

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