Varandir
Varandir was good in winning the Prix Niel at Longchamp on Sunday. Back in the field early on, he picked up well on the outside when Mikael Barzalona asked him to. He moved up on the outside of Benvenuto Cellini, bridged the gap to leader Montreal, and stayed on strongly to win by just over a length in the end from Alam, thereby reversing places from the Grand Prix de Paris with the runner-up.
Unraced as a juvenile, Francis Graffard's horse has now won four of his five races as a three-year-old. His only defeat was in that Grand Prix de Paris, in which he wasn't beaten far off a moderate pace and on good to firm ground. This was a nice step forward from that, and he proved that he could operate on good to firm ground, but he should be even happier when he gets back on easier ground.
He holds an entry in the Arc, but he might be better suited by stepping up in trip for the Prix de Chaudenay. His trainer said afterwards that the Arc was a possible target, and he could be an interesting outside in the Arc if he takes his chance in it, in a race in which his trainer obviously has a strong hand.
Longchamp, 6th September 2026
Back