'It's one which just keeps on giving' - Rausing delight at Eldarov's Leger win

Eldar Eldarov's clear-cut success in the Cazoo St Leger on Sunday was not only one of satisfaction and joy for Roger Varian, David Egan and KHK Racing. One of British breeding's most accomplished breeders in Kirsten Rausing described herself as "thrilled" to win a first British Classic.

Eldar Eldorav, who had earlier won the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, sold from Rausing's Staffordstown to Mags O'Toole and Oak Tree Farm for £110,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale. He then returned that payment with interest when selling to Oliver St Lawrence for £480,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale at Doncaster the following spring.

In pulling two lengths clear of another son of Dubawi in Godolphin's New London at Doncaster, the colt was providing Darley's supersire with a new individual top-flight winner, one that was particularly special for Rausing.

She told Great British Racing International: “I'm thrilled and delighted. Eldar Eldarov is from such a wonderful family, one which I first got involved with when I was a schoolgirl back in the 1960s and one which just keeps on giving.

“It has always been my ambition to win an English Classic and we have gone agonisingly close a couple of times in the Epsom Derby in the past, first with Dragon Dancer, who was beaten a short head by Sir Percy, who, ironically, we now have standing here at Lanwades, and then with Fame And Glory, who was second to Sea The Stars before going on to win the Irish Derby.

Kirsten Rausing with Alpinista at York this summerCredit: Edward Whitaker

“Now that I have finally won one, I would like to look further afield with his first cousin, Alpinista, in the Arc. So far so good with her since the Yorkshire Oaks, everything seems to be going to plan. And then there is Zaaki, who is being aimed for the Cox Plate and made a winning comeback the other day."

The Varian-trained colt comes from one of the finest Lanwades families around, being the third foal out of the triple Listed-winning Sea The Stars mare All At Sea.

All At Sea is a half-sister to four black-type performers including Alwilda, the dam of this season's Yorkshire Oaks heroine and Grand Prix de Saint Cloud heroine Alpinista, and Group-winning stayer Algometer. They are in turn out of triple German Group 1 winner Albanova, a half-sister to dual Champion Stakes winner Alborada.

Rausing continued: “Eldar Eldarov was always a particularly nice colt but if I wanted to fault him, he was the spitting image of his dam and was maybe a bit too elegant. He went to the sales during the pandemic, there was hardly a soul to be seen and fetched a relatively modest sum. In a normal year, I'm sure he would have made much more."

An exciting chapter for the family is set to continue with All At Sea currently in foal to Lanwades' exciting young sire and Prix du Jockey Club winner Study Of Man.

Rausing said: “All At Sea is here at Lanwades and is in foal to Study Of Man. She has a most lovely yearling filly by Study Of Man who I am going to keep and a colt foal by Lope De Vega who is going to the [Tattersalls] December Foal sales.”

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