Roger Varian Targets QEII Glory with Charyn After Narrow Prix du Moulin Defeat

Roger Varian is looking ahead to Queen Elizabeth II Stakes compensation after Charyn came up just short in the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp. The Carlburg Stables handler described it as a "frustrating watch," as his star miler failed to reel in the front-running Tribalist in the closing stages.

Charyn, who had been eyeing an unprecedented hat-trick of victories in the Queen Anne Stakes, Prix Jacques le Marois, and Prix du Moulin in the same season, was unable to close the gap, settling for second place in what was only his second defeat of an otherwise stellar year. Despite the setback, Varian remains full of praise for the four-year-old, who has established himself as one of the leading and most consistent milers in Europe.

Reflecting on the race, Varian acknowledged the difficulty of catching the leader, noting, “It was a frustrating watch, but he has run a great race. When you finish second, you have to tip your hat to the winner. I think in hindsight, he got a bit too far back. The field gave the winner six or seven lengths turning for home, which is tough to overcome, especially on this ground.”

While Charyn was well-positioned early in the race, the field stretched out from halfway, making it a challenging task to close down Tribalist. “He came out of the pack and almost caught the winner, but it wasn’t enough,” Varian explained. “He has run an enormous race, and while we’re frustrated, we have to congratulate the winner and move on.”

Adding to the misfortune, Charyn lost a shoe during the race, though Varian dismissed it as a major factor in the defeat, saying, “Losing a shoe was probably not ideal, but on this ground, he likely wasn’t even aware of it. For me, it’s not an excuse—it’s just frustrating because he ran well enough to win but didn’t quite get there.”

With the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (QEII) at Ascot in sight, Varian is eager to return to the scene of Charyn’s Royal Ascot triumph. The colt remains Paddy Power’s 5-2 favorite for the Qipco British Champions Day feature, a race Varian previously won with Bayside Boy in 2022.

“We would love to go to Ascot for the QEII, that has always been his autumn goal,” Varian confirmed. “It’s six weeks away, so there’s plenty of time to prepare. As long as he stays sound and healthy, there’s no reason why he won’t be there.”

With Charyn’s remarkable consistency and strong form this season, Varian will be hoping for redemption in the QEII and the chance to add another prestigious title to his growing list of major achievements.