Roger Varian: From Newmarket Neophyte to Classic Champion. Marking a decade since Kingston Hill's St. Leger triumph, a milestone that cemented his place among racing's elite.
Roger Varian is now one of Newmarket's biggest trainers. However, 10 years ago, his journey was just beginning when Kingston Hill gave him his first Classic triumph by storming to St Leger glory.
Varian was already a Group One winner at the time, having taken over from Michael Jarvis three years earlier, but Kingston Hill's victory secured his place in the elite club of Classic-winning trainers.
The son of Mastercraftsman had come close earlier in the season, finishing second in the Derby, and his impressive record made him the favourite for the world's oldest Classic at Doncaster in September 2014.
Despite his position as the market leader and a long layoff due to skipping the Great Voltigeur because of firm ground at York, there was some trepidation as Varian watched the grey colt make history at Town Moor.
Varian said: "I was only three or four seasons into my training career and to win a Classic, whatever was going to happen afterwards, you would always be a Classic-winning trainer and it is something no one can ever take away from you.
"It was obviously a big occasion for us and I remember feeling he was the class horse in the race. He was second in the Derby that year behind Australia and fourth in the Eclipse, and the Leger was his first run after the Eclipse. We had him declared for the Voltigeur at York, but we didn't run him as it was very fast ground.
"He was going to Doncaster as a class horse and favourite, but he hadn't run for some time. We thought he should win and when you are thinking that, it makes you a bit nervous.
"When you are young and getting going, those big horses help shape your profile and help attract new owners, so he was great. The story was great and winning the oldest Classic as our first Classic, it was a great moment."
Kingston Hill's victory was not only a significant feather in Varian's cap, but it was also a major moment for owner Paul Smith, who had shown considerable support in the early days of Varian's training career.
The duo had watched Kingston Hill lead the Derby inside the final quarter-mile before ultimately conceding to Australia—a bittersweet outcome with Aidan O'Brien's colt wearing the colours of Paul's father and Coolmore partner Derrick Smith.
The angst of that Epsom near-miss was somewhat washed away by the delight of simply saddling a horse capable of competing in the Premier Classic—a contrast to the emotions felt nearly 20 years later when King Of Steel finished in the same spot on the Surrey Downs.
"I don't think the occasion was lost on me; it (Doncaster) was a great day," continued Varian.
"It was great to win it for Paul Smith, who had horses with Michael Jarvis previously and supported me when I took over. We had become very close to Paul and his family, so it was great to win it for him.
"We were over the Derby by the time the St Leger came around, and it's funny as I was caught up in the celebrations a little bit at Epsom as Australia had won in Paul's father's colours and Paul was second in his colours.
"At the time you are young and think 'what could have been,' but equally you are delighted to have had a runner in the Derby who nearly won.
"I think when King Of Steel was second last year, you are more 'oh god'. When you are younger I guess you don't feel the disappointment as much as you do when you have been at it a little while."
It perhaps should not be surprising that South Yorkshire was the setting of Kingston Hill's finest hour, having proven himself as a Group One performer in the Racing Post Trophy the prior season.
His class and versatility were evident throughout the 2014 season as he competed in Classic events at a mile, 12 furlongs, and a mile and three-quarters. However, Kingston Hill thrived most with softer ground, which was unfortunately absent at Doncaster.
Despite taking Varian to places he could only have imagined a few years earlier, he occasionally wonders what might have been if soft ground had been present in just one of Kingston Hill's top-level races that year.
"He was a great horse; he won the Racing Post Trophy at two," Varian added.
"He didn't have things go his way as a three-year-old; he loved cut in the ground, and the slowest ground he ever ran on was good ground.
"I think in a different year he may have won another of those good races, and in the Derby, yes he was beaten by Australia, but they were well clear of the rest.
"It's all ifs and buts, but he was a big horse who went on to be fourth in the Arc behind Treve after winning the St Leger. He was very good to us, and we will never forget the day he won the St Leger."
Doncaster has continued to be a fruitful ground for Varian, who added to his St Leger tally in 2022 with Eldar Eldarov, marking his second British Classic winner.
Unlike Kingston Hill, Eldar Eldarov showed only glimpses of his potential during his brief juvenile career.
However, he blossomed at three, winning at Royal Ascot before charging up the Doncaster straight under David Egan for another memorable moment in the final Classic of the season.
"Eldar Eldarov had a different profile; he was a late bloomer who ran only once at two," Varian explained.
"But when he won that Nottingham maiden at two, he was very impressive and looked like he might stay well. I just thought then he could go on to be a Leger horse.
"He did well as a three-year-old and won the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. He wasn't quite sharp enough in the Grand Prix de Paris when fourth, but from that moment, we targeted the Leger and trained him for the race."
"I know he wasn't the favourite for the race, but he was one of the fancied runners and it was great to win it again; it was another very special day."
