Category: Trainers and Owners

Roger Varian was born on March 14, 1979 so, at the time of writing, is 42 years old. In his younger days, Varian rode as a conditional jockey to Josh Gifford, but a shattered wrist, sustained in a fall while on attachment to legendary Maryland trainer Jack Fisher in 2001, effectively brought his riding career to an end. He subsequently accepted an invitation from Michael Jarvis – for whom he had worked, briefly, before joining Gifford – to become assistant trainer at Kremlin House Stables in Newmarket, a position he would occupy for the next ten years.

However, as Jarvis’ health declined, Varian adopted a leading role in the day-to-day running of Kremlin House, such that when Jarvis was forced to retire, in 2011, he was ideally positioned to take over the training licence. At that stage, he acknowledged the support he had received from Jarvis and his owners, saying, ‘I’ve learned an awful lot off arguably one of the best trainers there’s been. I’m very privileged and I understand that I’m very lucky.’

In any event, Varian made the perfect start as a trainer in his own right, saddling his first winner with his first runner, Eton Forever, in the Spring Mile at Doncaster on April 2, 2011. In his initial season, he saddled 53 winners in all and amassed just over £700,000 in prize money. In 2014, Varian saddled his first and, so far, only Classic winner, Kingston Hill in the St. Leger, but since moving to Carlburg Stables in Newmarket, in 2017, has saddled over a hundred winners in each of the last five seasons.

At the time of writing, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede lie second in the 2021/22 Jump Owners’ Championship, with six winners and just over £79,500 in prize money. Most recently their distinctive two-tone green silks were carried to victory by Sceau Royal, who recorded a comfortable 3½-length win from Silver Streak in the Listed Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Hurdle at Kempton on October 17, 2021. Sceau Royal also ran well in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, almost being brought down by the drfting Chacun Pour Soi shortly after the third-last fence before recovering to finish fifth, beaten 3¾ lengths.

As far as winners at the Cheltenham Festival are concerned, Munir and Souede have jointly owned three, although Simon Munir already had two to his name before they joined forces. His earlier winners were Soldatino in the Triumph Hurdle in 2010 and Une Artiste in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle in 2012, both horses having been trained by Nicky Henderson. More recently, the financiers have won the Triumph Hurdle, again, with Peace And Co, trained by Nicky Henderson, in 2015, Arkle Challenge Trophy with Footpad, trained by Willie Mullins, in 2018 and Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle with Concertista, again trained by Mullins, in 2020.

The short answer is yes, he is, at least by marriage. In 1989, Haggas married Maureen, the elder daughter of Lester Piggott, officially making him the son-in-law of the former eleven-time champion jockey. Indeed, according to Haggas, as far as his training career is concerned, ‘Lester has always been extremely helpful in lots and lots of ways.’

Born in Skipton, North Yorkshire in 1960, Haggas was educated at Harrow but, following an abortive, three-month spell in the family textile business, headed to Newmarket. He effectively begged employment, in any capacity, from the late Jeremy Hindley, who trained a horse for his father and had recently acquired Clarehaven Stables on the Bury Road.

The rest, as they say, is history. After two years as assistant to Sir Mark Prescott and four more as assistant to the late John Winter, Haggas first took out a training licence in his own right in November, 1986. He sent out his first winner from Somerville Lodge, Tricky Note, in April, 1987 and has since saddled over 2,000 more, including two Classic winners. Haggas won the Derby with Shaamit in 1996 and the Oaks with Dancing Rain in 2011 and, at the last count, had 21 Group 1 winners to his name at home and abroad. He saddled over a hundred winners in a season for the first time in 2013 and has done so again in every season since, amassing over £2 million in prize money – indeed, over £3 million in 2018 and 2019 – on each occasion.