VARSOVIAN won his eighth race today at Lingfield but his first over seven furlongs.
The seven-year-old son of Refuse To Bend is a six furlong specialist having won all of his previous races over the trip, four of them at the Surrey track. However, he was four pounds below his last winning mark, was well drawn in three and had stable apprentice Jack Duern claiming three pounds, so there was reason to think he could run well despite maybe the doubt about the trip.
Varsovian broke well and raced keenly. Making all, the 6/1 shot kicked on two out and despite drifting right in the final furlong, he stayed on well to win by one and a quarter lengths from Spirit of Sarwan. This was an impressive effort in denying a 111-day absence from the track.
Interestingly, the chestnut gelding didn’t race until he was four but he has more than made up for lost time, having won eight times in 37 career starts at an impressive strike rate of 21%. Varsovian has truly been a great servant to Radlett Racing and having run up a sequence before, who’s to say he might not follow up?
This was the first winner of the month for the yard but it means Harper Lodge Farm has sent out winners every month this year and proof of a consistent season. While the yard has enjoyed its best ever season in terms of prize money with over £860,000 won to date, it has also equalled last year’s total of 34 wins. With another three and a half weeks of the year to go, there is every chance last year’s total will be beaten.
For successful jockey, Jack Duern, the win on Varsovian was his seventh success this year, six of them having come on the yard’s horses.