Strong team assembled with plenty of potential improvers

A brace of Group 1s and a new best of 109 winners in Britain meant there were plenty of reasons for Roger Varian to be pleased with the 2017 campaign.

The retirement of globetrotting star Postponed was a big blow early on in the year, but Nezwaah’s success in the Pretty Polly and Ajman Princess winning the Prix Jean Romanet ensured Varian dined at racing’s top table again. With those two mares now retired, the search resumes for more Group 1 performers.

"We bagged a couple of Group 1s, and for a stable like us we don't like to draw a blank at the top level through the course of the year," Varian said.