Cumani to Varian Flat Angle

I wrote about this a while ago on my blog (richardmooreracingblog.wordpress.com), and in fairness two big handicap winners at York (Appeared and Barsanti) have really boosted the theory - with Royal Ascot coming up there must be a load more of these ex-Cumani horses that are being aimed at the high class handicaps.....

An angle for the flat

A lot was made from a punting perspective of backing all the Paul and Clare Rooney-owned horses that had left Donald McCain’s yard for new trainers during the past jumps season. The Last Samuri and Kruzhlinin were just two examples of horses that improved massively for the change of scenery.

A similar angle looks to be emerging on the flat this season, with the transfer of the horses owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum from Luca Cumani to Roger Varian. Postponed improved nicely to win the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, and last weekend King Bolete left last season’s form behind to win a valuable handicap at Ascot with plenty to spare.

I would be the first to put my hand up as a big Luca Cumani fan, and it is his patience in these horses’ early careers that Roger Varian will be able to reap the rewards of this season. Plenty of the horses that moved were late-developing staying types anyway, and some of the high class handicappers will definitely make the leap to pattern company over the course of the season. With the Varian horses in such good form, for the next few months it is an angle that will be foremost in my mind.