Varian removes Rock Montreal from Solario, aims for Doncaster
Roger Varian has decided to withdraw Rock Montreal from the BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown and is instead setting his sights on a meeting at Doncaster on St Leger day. The Godolphin-owned colt, a one million guineas purchase by the Newmarket stable, had impressed on his racecourse debut at Yarmouth earlier in the month and had been expected to step up to Group 3 company at Esher.
Concerns over how the ground was riding
Varian cited caution after monitoring the way the surface at Sandown was riding following earlier races on rain-softened ground. Although Rock Montreal previously thrived on quick ground at Yarmouth, his trainer felt the combination of the track’s underfoot conditions and the stiff nature of the course meant it was prudent to withdraw. The colt is by Blue Point and is still physically developing, factors that contributed to the decision to seek an alternative engagement rather than force a run on testing ground.
Doncaster options on St Leger day
Rock Montreal retains entries at Doncaster, where Varian confirmed the colt is likely to run later in the week. There are two obvious targets at Town Moor on St Leger day: the Listed Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes and the Group 2 Betfred Champagne Stakes. The Flying Scotsman, run over the course and distance of a mile, appears the more probable option at present, with the Champagne Stakes also a consideration depending on how connections elect to proceed.
Connections keen to protect a promising juvenile
The colt’s retention for Doncaster represents a cautious approach intended to preserve his long-term potential. Having produced a visually impressive debut on fast ground at Yarmouth, the team around Rock Montreal prefer to place him where his strengths are likely to be best exploited. Varian indicated he remains hopeful of giving the colt opportunities on less testing ground in the future.
Kokbastau delivers for Varian on the day
Although Rock Montreal was withdrawn from Sandown, Varian did enjoy success on the card through Kokbastau, who recorded a third consecutive victory in the Zyn Frontrunner Finish Handicap. Ridden by Ray Dawson, Kokbastau came home a head clear of the 3-1 favourite Alcarath, having started the race at 9-2.
Varian described Kokbastau as a work in progress who had shown resilience to land the hat-trick despite some greenness and taking a racing blow. The trainer revealed the gelding had returned from a significant fracture sustained at home the previous year and praised the veterinary care, patience of connections and the team at the yard for getting the horse back to winning form.
Plans for Kokbastau
With Kokbastau’s progressive profile, Varian indicated that one more run this season is a possibility before looking further ahead to next year. The win followed an improved performance at Kempton on handicap debut, from which the gelding earned a rise in the weights and subsequently negotiated this tougher assignment to secure victory.
Festival implications
- Rock Montreal’s switch from Sandown to Doncaster keeps a promising juvenile in contention for notable juvenile feature races on St Leger day.
- The decision underlines the influence of track-specific conditions when planning festival targets for lightly raced horses.
- Kokbastau’s hat-trick highlights the depth of form that can emerge from the handicap ranks on big cards and offers a potential early-season pointer for connections building towards next year.
As the flat season approaches its autumnal festivals, the movement of two-year-olds between fixtures remains a key storyline for racegoers and connections alike, with decisions on ground and course often shaping the juvenile programme for the winter and the year ahead.
