Varian Eyes Arc Success With Kingston Hill

The Prix de l`arc de Triomphe awaits Kingston Hill after comfortably winning Saturday`s (13th September) St. Leger despite ongoing ground concerns. The victory providing both his trainer Roger Varian and jockey Andrea Atzeni with their first ever Classic wins.

Twelve ran in the spectacular renewal of Britain`s oldest Classic, the field shrinking by one as Odeon was withdrawn after appearing to be wearing undeclared headgear before the off.

Kingston Hill, the race`s 9/4 favourite, was held up by Atzeni in the race`s preliminary stages, before slowly reeling in then leader Granddukeoftuscany three furlongs from home. Slight interference with eventual second and ex-Derby rival, Romsdal, saw a Stewards Enquiry called though the race was quickly handed to Varian`s plucky colt who registered a length and a quarter winning margin.

Speaking of his win, Varian, of Kremlin House Stables, said, `I can`t put it into words. It`s brilliant, it`s a relief and exciting,` `It`s an exciting thing to win a Classic and it`s what we`re all in it for.`

The horse, known as having a preference for softer ground, participated in the race in spite of Doncaster`s clerk of the course, Roderick Duncan, refusing to water the track. Such inaction was to the annoyance of 35-year-old trainer Varian.

`If they don`t water, they are risking the non-participation of the favourite of the classic.` Varian told press on Thursday (11th September).

`We`ll see what the ground is like on Saturday but if they don`t water it`s unlikely that he`ll turn up.`

With the ground officially good, good-to-soft in places, the retrospectively correct decision was made to run the colt and by doing so scooping the £368,615 jackpot. Kingston Hill also made history by becoming only the fourth grey winner in the post-war period. All eyes turn then to Longchamp, France and the Prix de l`arc de Triomphe, his trainer signalling the 5th October `monument` as being Kingston Hill`s next target should he be `100 per cent` race fit. `Kingston Hill is fine this morning but he had a tough race yesterday.`Varian told reporters on Sunday (14th September). `If he bounces back from the St. Leger and is 100 per cent then he deserves to be in the Arc line-up.`

The soft ground specialist is currently 12/1 to record back-to-back victories in France and become the first horse to win both titles in the same season. To do this, Kingston Hill will have to overcome a plethora of other fancies including favourite Taghrooda (6/1 - various), Derby hero Australia (10/1 - boylesports) and last year`s winner Treve (10/1 - paddy Power).

Criquette Head-Maarek`s Treve is without a win in three starts since her high profile Longchamp success in 2013. The filly now being a three-time beaten odds-on favourite.

Finishing an uninspiring third in Ascot`s Prince of Wales`s Stakes back in June caused Head-Maarek to take the decision to replace experienced jockey Frankie Dettori with Treve`s former rider Thierry Jarnet for yesterday`s (14th September) Group one Prix Vermeille. Despite being a fantastically headstrong decision, the change made not one bit of difference to Treve`s form and saw her limp home in fourth place. After the race, twice winning trainer of the Arc, Head-Maarek slammed suggestions that she should retire the horse, re-emphasising her will to see the filly defend her crown.

`Personally I would like to see her in the Arc and I will do everything I can so she can be at the start.` She told reporters in the aftermath of the 4-year-old`s defeat.

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15/09/2014     © Frixo 2024