'We haven't lost any faith in him' - Varian sweet on Eldar Eldarov for St Leger

Three of the last five winners of the Cazoo St Leger found their way to Doncaster via the Grand Prix de Paris and Roger Varian is more than hopeful that Eldar Eldarov will be able to continue that trend.

While the previously unbeaten son of Dubawi had to settle for a supporting role behind the impressive Onesto at Longchamp last Thursday, Varian retains his faith and is now firmly focused on a Classic he won eight years ago with Kingston Hill.

Varian said: "I actually don't think he disgraced himself but he wasn't quite sharp enough for that test on that ground and I think he'll be more in his comfort zone going back up in trip. People say you don't ever lose, you either win or you learn."

Eldar Eldarov was unable to go with Onseto or runner-up Simca Mille but stayed on well for fourth, having previously stormed home late to win the Queen's Vase over the Leger trip of 1m6f.

Bookmakers reacted conservatively to that first career defeat and he is still the general fourth favourite, with Sky Bet and Boylesports the only firms offering double figures at 10-1.

Varian said: "Of course you're disappointed when you're beaten but we all understood it was a very different test to the Vase at Ascot where, in fairness, he needed every inch of the trip to get on top."

The French handicapper gave the colt the same rating of 109 he earned for his defeat of Zechariah in the Queen's Vase, following which the St Leger was marked out as a likely long-term target.

Varian added: "Where do we see his future? Probably up at a mile and six and depending on how he develops over the winter, maybe more of a Cup candidate than a horse for the sexy mile and a half races.

"We haven't lost any faith in him and he can have a bit of time. It was a long trip to Paris in hot weather and a tough race on fast ground. I'm not fully committed to whether he'll run beforehand or not but he could conceivably go straight to the St Leger. That is his primary target, as it probably was before he went to Paris.

"He's still developing as he's only had four starts. He had a pretty strong CV until the other night and if you watch the race, although he was beaten early in the straight, he only looked as if he was hitting top gear as the line came. He did start to kick in just a bit too late."

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