Charyn 'in a real good spot' for QEII but challengers new and old lining up to test him in gruelling conditions
Every season an unexpected star rises through the ranks and no horse fits that description better than Charyn as the 2023 campaign draws to a conclusion.
Anyone who identified Charyn as a candidate for Flat racing’s best miler ahead of his four-year-old season deserves the utmost credit. He was 0-7 at three and frankly looked exposed at the highest level. This term it has been a completely different story and even a record of 4-6 does him a disservice.
Only two superb front-running rides in unusual races from Robert Havlin aboard Audience (Lockinge) and particularly Mickael Barzalona on Tribalist (Prix du Moulin) deprived Charyn of a perfect six months.
On a day when champions are crowned, Charyn probably deserves this QEII. He has danced every dance in the mile division with the exception of the Sussex Stakes and is as reliable as they come.
That said, perhaps such a schedule will prove his downfall at Ascot. It is difficult for even the most durable types to sustain top-class form from March through to October when the ground turns and his best performances have been on better going.
While his runner-up finish in the Moulin came on ground described as soft, French soft and British soft can sometimes bear only a passing resemblance.
This could be a slog in the conditions and Charyn meets a pair of new rivals with demonstrable soft-ground form. Impressive Sun Chariot winner Tamfana has excelled since returning to a mile, while Prague produced a performance bordering on Group 1 calibre in the Joel.
There is also the prospect that some of Charyn’s old foes can offer more. Henry Longfellow is a player on his second place in the St James’s Palace as that performance puts him second highest on Racing Post Ratings. He should relish a thorough test at the trip.
Two other interesting alternatives lurk in Metropolitan and Quddwah. Admittedly this unexposed pair were put in their place by Charyn in the Jacques le Marois when last seen, but both may benefit for the ease underfoot and have presumably been kept back for this. Freshness can be crucial at this time of year.
Neither has anything to prove on the course either. Quddwah beat Queen Anne second and third Docklands and Maljoom in good style on the straight track in May, while Metropolitan ran well in the fast-ground St James’s Palace.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders
Charyn 'in a real good spot'
Just two years after 33-1 outsider Bayside Boy gave him a first win in the mile feature, Roger Varian is back at the other end of the market with long-time ante-post favourite Charyn.
The four-year-old returns to the scene of his scintillating win in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, which cemented his place at the top table. He has done nothing wrong since despite his defeat in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp last time.
Varian watched the grey complete his prep on Warren Hill on Friday morning and said: “The QEII has been one of his main targets ever since he won the Queen Anne. We wanted to have a fresh horse for the end of the season and, although he’s raced consistently throughout the year, his races have been quite nicely spaced. As much as we can tell, it seems he's holding his form and he looks in a real good spot.”
Charyn’s prep has included a spin on the Rowley Mile. Varian added: “We took him to the July course for a racecourse gallop before he won the Prix Jacques le Marois and we took him up to the Rowley Mile the other day for a similar exercise.
“He’s got an amazing constitution and carries so much condition all the time even when he’s racing. He holds his weight so well that taking him to the Rowley Mile gave us the opportunity to do that bit extra with him and it seems to have put him spot on.”
Charyn has form on ground with plenty of ease but Varian added: “I would have preferred it better as he’s scintillating on good ground, as his Ascot and Deauville performances have shown.
“However, he has won on testing ground and gets through it. We won’t be using the ground as an excuse but I think he’s a better horse on better ground.”
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What they say
William Knight, trainer of Checkandchallenge
His last two races have been his best for a while and a lot of that is because he's been gelded. He likes the track, goes on the ground and should have an each-way chance.
Jerome Reynier, trainer of Facteur Cheval
Everything is set fair. He'll have his ground and the race won’t set up in the adverse way it did in the Queen Anne. Last year he produced a performance that was completely out of the ordinary because he broke with the leaders and was beside Paddington early on before being taken back and was virtually last at one stage. The way he finished the race was extraordinary. I’m very happy with him and I'd love him to be the horse who wins me a first Group 1 in Britain.
Simon Crisford, joint-trainer of Poker Face and Quddwah
Poker Face is in good form. He was second to Prague at Newmarket last time and we're very pleased with him. Quddwah has been going well and a bit of soft ground will help him. He’s fairly lightly raced, but he’s come a long way and is still learning.
Dylan Cunha, trainer of Prague
It’s been the plan since his win at Newmarket and he has earned the supplementary fee in prize-money. It’s the British Champions Series, so it’s a strong race and we go there under no illusions. Charyn is the one to beat. Prague needs to improve 5lb to win but he's in flying form and on the up, so we’ve got to take our chance. We're respectful of everyone but confident in our horse.
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Henry Longfellow
He hasn’t had things go right for him this year. Variables we can’t control have gone against him, but he’s still run some very good races. Maybe that’s the way it's going to be for him, but we don’t think we’ve seen the best of him. We're very happy with his work and he has form with ease in the ground. If he's back to his St James’s Palace form he’ll be thereabouts.
Mario Baratti, trainer of Metropolitan
He has shown himself to be tough and classy and I’m not worried about him in soft ground. The fast ground in the Jacques le Marois wasn’t necessarily a help to him but he ran very well on his first try against the older horses. I think he has every right to be considered among the favourites. This looks the perfect race for him because he has always been strongest at the finish. In a race at the end of the year in soft ground you always need to stay well to win. Charyn beat us well last time and is the better horse on good ground but Metropolitan has come on for his first experience of running on a straight track.
David Menuisier, trainer of Tamfana
The Sun Chariot didn’t seem to take a lot out of Tamfana as she’s been bouncing at home. She has a phenomenal constitution and it was fantastic to get the Group 1 win.
Reporting by David Milnes
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Champions Day previews:
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- Saturday updates: sore foot rules Lossiemouth out of Morgiana clash with State Man and Brighterdaysahead
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