'He’s got a big future' - Roger Varian outlines plans for gallant St Leger second Rahiebb

Roger Varian is looking forward to a Cup campaign in 2026 with St Leger runner-up Rahiebb, who will not run again this season following his Town Moor near-miss behind Scandinavia last weekend.

The son of Frankel posted a career-best when finishing with a flourish to be beaten just a neck by Scandinavia to deny Varian a third St Leger win following Kingston Hill (2014) and Eldar Eldarov (2022).

The narrow defeat would have been a first Classic win for jockey Ray Dawson, but there could be plenty of other big days to come in the top staying events next year for Rahiebb, who returned at 14-1 at Doncaster.

Varian said: "He ran great – it was a career-best by some way – and I feel he’s just getting his act together. He’s always looked a nice horse and had run some good races and we had a real clear run with him from Goodwood through to Doncaster. 

"I didn’t get tempted by the Voltigeur [at York] as I thought we’d get him right for Leger day as I’ve always believed, even from a long time ago but certainly from the Queen’s Vase, that he was a Leger prospect."

Prior to Doncaster, Rahiebb had been flagged as a staying prospect when third behind Carmers, who finished behind him in the St Leger, at Royal Ascot in June. After that he finished fourth behind Merchant in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, but he may well have had excuses that day.   

Varian added: "I was happy to draw a line through his Goodwood run as I feel I was too kind to him after Royal Ascot and I think he went there a bit heavy. Also, he ran after the storm which was not ideal. 

"We had six weeks from then to get him right for the Leger and we had him in great shape and he ran a great race.

Roger Varian: 'We had him in great shape and he ran a great race'Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"It looks like he’s got a big future in the staying division and he could well be a nice Cup prospect for next year. I'd think that is him done for this year as he had his first race in March, so has had quite a long year already."

Although the St Leger was low on runners with seven lining up, Varian feels it was high on quality. 

He added: "Even though it was a small field this year it was a strong Leger as we had a dual Derby winner behind us. The winner has improved since Ascot and is a real top horse and we pushed him all the way to the line. 

"I think it’s a strong piece of form and he shaped as if he would get two miles next year, which opens up a lot of opportunities."

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Watch: St Leger fallout, racing's strike assessed and Delacroix's last hurrah? 

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