Horse Racing
Benvenuto Cellini disappoints as Varandir secures Prix Niel glory
Irish Derby hero Benvenuto Cellini proved bitterly disappointing as Varandir claimed a decisive victory in the Qatar Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp.
Down the field as favourite for the Derby at Epsom before controversially being declared a non-runner due to an incident in the starting stalls, Benvenuto Cellini bounced back to claim Classic glory at the Curragh three weeks later, since when he had finished a creditable third against his elders in the King George at Ascot.
Returning from a short break, the son of Frankel was widely expected to stake his claim for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe over the same course and distance in four weeks’ time, but after going in pursuit of his pacesetting stablemate Montreal from the home turn, he found little for pressure and weakened into fifth place.
With Montreal’s petrol tank running on empty entering the final furlong, having streaked clear of his rivals for much of the race, Francis-Henri Graffard’s Varandir – a close-up fourth behind the William Haggas-trained Maltese Cross in the Grand Prix de Paris on his last outing – was the one who finished best to grab the lead under Mickael Barzalona and he was ultimately a comfortable winner over the staying-on Alam.
When asked whether the victory was a surprise, Nemone Routh, French racing manager and director for winning owners Aga Khan Studs, told Sky Sports Racing: “No, not hugely. We knew the horse was really well, we knew he’d progressed a lot and we were very happy with his run in the Grand Prix de Paris – he really moved forward from when he won the Group Three and I think he’d moved forward a lot since then.
“He’s a horse that mentally and physically has improved throughout the year and we knew we had him well. I think he needed this run, because he was a bit heavy in the preliminaries.”
Coral cut Varandir for 20-1 from 40-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and while the same connections have last year’s winner Daryz set to defend his crown, this son of Zarak is clearly entitled to line up alongside him.
Routh added: “He is in the Arc. We obviously need to speak to Princess Zahra (owner), (but) I’d say why not run? That would be my idea right now.
“I think he goes on any ground and sometimes it’s good to have two runners as you can be drawn 18 out of 18 with one and have a good draw with another, so why not spread your chances? It’s a possibility.”
