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York or the Curragh for Eldar Eldarov

3 minute read

Roger Varian could head to York or the Curragh with Eldar Eldarov for his next assignment, with a tilt at the Irish St Leger expected to be the colt’s main target.

ELDAR ELDAROV winning the Cazoo St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series).
ELDAR ELDAROV winning the Cazoo St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series). Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Eldar Eldarov could either take in the course and distance Group 3 Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh on Sunday or wait for the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at York on Friday of the Ebor Festival.

"I would really like to run him in the Irish St Leger, so it is working out whether he has a run before then," said Roger Varian.

"He does have a few options in the next 10 days if he was to run again, or do we go to Ireland with a fresh horse? We just need 48 hours or so to make up our minds."

Last year's St Leger winner has been producing solid performances this season, although he is yet to win since his Doncaster Classic success. He commenced the new campaign with a useful second behind Giavellotto in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup before struggling to get involved in the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup. In the Group 1 Goodwood Cup, the son of Dubawi shaped well with a fourth behind Quickthorn, who stole the race with an impressive front-running display.

When asked about the Goodwood Cup, Varian said: "It was a muddling race and a frustrating race to watch, but I thought he ran right back to form.

"He was a head behind Andrew Balding's horse (Coltrane) and reversed the form with the Marco Botti horse who beat him of course at York. We were giving him weight that day whereas off levels we beat him the other day.

"It's hard not to say that within a 1lb or two, Eldar wasn't back to somewhere near his best so that is encouraging."

The Group 1 Irish St Leger will take place on 10 September at the Curragh and has been used as a stepping stone for a Melbourne Cup bid.


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