Trainer Varian upbeat about chances of success during July Festival

Aljamaaheer steps into spotlight as Sheikh Hamdan bids to continue his successful British summer

Aljamaaheer and jockey Paul Hanagan line up at the parade canter at Royal Ascot on June 18, 2013. Frank Sorge / Racingfotos.com

Newmarket, England // This has been a European turf season of near misses so far for Roger Varian, the Newmarket trainer, but the three-day July Festival could be the stage on which he finally ends that frustration.

It started in Dubai, when Ambivalent briefly led the Dubai Sheema Classic field before she was swamped by the pace and power of Japanese raider Gentildonna and Cirrus Des Aigles.

He then saddled Kingston Hill to run the race of his life to finish second in the English Derby behind Australia in June, before Aljamaaheer was third at Royal Ascot in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes two weeks later.

Racehorse trainers can be a downbeat bunch, but Varian prefers to see his results this season from the glass half full perspective.

“I think we are having a good year and we are getting the winners, but we are yet to have a Group 1 win,” he said. “Hopefully we can turn that around.

“I’m pleased with how our runners are performing and we have had runners in the big races. We need our flag-bearers like Aljamaaheer and Ambivalent, and I’ll be disappointed if we don’t get a Group 1 this season.”

Ambivalent is enjoying a midseason break, but Aljamaaheer flies the standard for the resurgent Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid in the July Cup on Saturday.

Before that, Varian aims to plunder the undercard with Royal Ascot winner Cursory Glance, who takes her chance in the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes.

For good measure, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid’s Farraaj is among the fancied runners in the big handicap on Saturday at York, as is Horsted Keynes, owned by Fitri Hay, in the seven-furlong (1,400 metres) handicap at Newmarket on the same day.

Varian is sweet on the chances of Cursory Glance, who will be out to cement her position as one of the leading candidates for next year’s English 1,000 Guineas, but it is Aljamaaheer who dominates his conversation.

Trying to turn around the form with Royal Ascot conquerors Slade Power, trained in Ireland by Edward Lynam, and Due Diligence, also an Irish raider who hails from Aidan O'Brien's yard, will not be easy.

Aljamaaheer may have taken well to sprinting after last season’s performances at a mile (1,600m), but after two efforts at 1,200m he needs to step up on his previous runs under Paul Hanagan over the July Cup distance.

“We hope he can improve, which shouldn’t be impossible,” Varian said. “Paul said the blinkers helped at Ascot and he probably should run in them again.

“He is quick from the gates, but last year we tried to get him to kick back and relax to get the mile, whereas now we are trying to get him to do the exact opposite.”

Rizeena was declared on Wednesday for Friday’s Group 1 Falmouth Stakes and will be ridden for the first time by Olivier Peslier, who seeks to follow up in the fillies-only event after scoring on Goldikova in 2009.

Ryan Moore rode Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook’s filly to victory at Royal Ascot but is required by Sir Michael Stoute for Integral, a fellow Royal Ascot victor.

Richard Hughes rode Rizeena to finish seventh in the English 1,000 Guineas last year but will ride last year’s Falmouth winner Sky Lantern, while James Doyle, who won in Ireland on her last season, will be riding for Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at York.

Godolphin’s Certify has also been entered.

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