Charyn and Silvestre de Sousa © Photo Healy Racing
Roger Varian hopes Charyn has one last chapter to write of his sensational season when he bows out with an “away game” in the prestigious Mile Championship at Kyoto Racecourse on Sunday.
The son of Dark Angel will head to owner Nurlan Bizakov’s stud operation in France following his globetrotting mission to Japan and a race that has always been the preferred option for the colt’s career swansong after landing the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in style at Ascot.
That British Champions Day success was the fifth time the dashing grey has stuck gold in seven outings this term and having given his connections notable highlights such as a Royal Ascot victory and the Prix Jacques le Marois triumph to celebrate, his final act could well be his toughest, as he ventures to the Far East.
Varian is well aware of the task at hand, but is keen to embrace the challenge of taking on a racing powerhouse in their own backyard with Europe’s leading miler.
Varian said: “He’s been great this year and we’ve had a good journey with him. He’s given us some brilliant days and hopefully there is one more to come.
“The timing of this race worked well after Ascot and it is obviously going to be the last run of his career. He has come out of Ascot so well and we were always keen to come.
“It is a challenge and it’s a sporting challenge. It’s admirable of his owner Nurlan Bizakov to support that challenge. Nurlan is here and is very excited.
“We’re in a global industry and it’s not an easy place to come. The Japanese are very strong globally, but particularly when it is an away game and you are taking them on in their own back yard.
“It’s a very different style and tempo of racing and while Charyn is the highest-rated horse in the race, we’re not underestimating the challenge he faces.”
Although always held in the highest regard, Charyn was a Group-level winner at two, but did not get his head in front at three, despite a number of respectable efforts in deep waters, including against Aidan O’Brien’s Paddington.
However, it is iron constitution and steadfast temperament that has been often been credited as key to his flourishing at four, resulting in three victories at the highest level.
Those characteristics have once again come to the fore as he has made the long trip across the globe, where he will become Varian’s second runner after an unsuccessful tilt at the Japan Cup with Sri Putra in the early part of his training career.
“He’s in great form, he has an unbelievable temperament and a very relaxed mentality,” continued Varian.
“He’s took the long journey and quarantine in his stride. Of course, you never quite know until the gates open, but for all the world he looks in great nick and hopefully that proves to be the case.
“It’s nice to have a good one competing on Japanese soil and we keep our fingers crossed for Sunday.”
A central figure in Charyn’s rise to stardom this season has been the ever-present Silvestre de Sousa in the saddle.
However, there will be a replacement in play this weekend with Ryan Moore, who has already put Charyn through his paces since arriving in Japan, taking over steering duties.
“Ryan is going to ride him and that is due to Silvestre not being licensed by the JRA,” added Varian.
“It’s unfortunate for Silvestre that he is unavailable, but Ryan Moore is a pretty good substitute and knows these Japanese tracks very well.”
