When accomplished European trainer ROGER VARIAN ships a horse overseas for a big race, it’s a good idea to take notice. Varian has had good luck at Woodbine, too, and this Sunday he will try to win his first Canadian International (G1) with the regally-bred ROYAL CHAMPION.
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum, Royal Champion (Shamardal) will be ridden by James Doyle in the 1 1/4 mile International which figures to lure at least one other formidable European horse, NATIONS PRIDE from Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin team.
Royal Champion, whose dam Emirates Queen, a Group 2 winner, is a half-sister to the great stallion DUBAWI (Ire). And Royal Champion has Woodbine success in his breeding as Emirates Queen and Dubawai’s dam is ZOMARADAH, who won the 1998 E.P. Taylor Stakes as a three-year-old for Sheikk Mohammed Obaid.
Varian sent out the owner’s SHEIKHA REIKA (Fr) also by Shamardal, to win the 2018 E.P. Taylor Stakes at 6-to-1. The previous year his trainee Talada was second in the Taylor at 10-to-1.
Varian told the Racing Post, “We’ve never won the Canadian International although we’ve had some luck in the other big race on the card, the E P Taylor Stakes, over the years. Royal Champion is going there a fresh horse and we expect the tight left-handed layout of the track to play to his strengths.”
Royal Champion has won four of 12 races including the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. In that race, Royal Champion defeated BOLSHOI BALLET, who came back to win the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga in August.
* The E.P. Taylor (G1) is also on International day with Canadian star MOIRA meeting SKIMS, AMAZING GRACE and others at 1 1/4 miles on turf.
#4 Royal Champion wins the Wolferton Stakes at Royal @Ascot at odds of 20/1!pic.twitter.com/m53wQBa1oL
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) June 20, 2023
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