De Sousa hopeful that classy Charyn can end his domestic career with perfect performance in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Three-time champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa owes a big debt to Charyn, who got the Brazilian’s return to race riding in Britain off to a flying start at Doncaster in March and ought to be hard to beat when he takes on 12 rivals in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. 

De Sousa, who won the 2013 QIPCO Champion Stakes on Farhh and the 2019 Sprint on Donjuan Triumphant, has not ridden for three weeks owing to a whip ban incurred under the totting- up system, but he has kept himself fit and returns to the saddle in the nick of time with four rides at Newcastle tomorrow evening. 

Besides returning home for a few days he has been riding out regularly, and he has had two recent sits on the Roger Varian-trained Charyn, a ride he initially picked up only because James Doyle was injured in March.  

Charyn won in style that day and a winning partnership was born – one which saw the pair add a Group 2 at Sandown before top-level wins in the Queen Anne Stakes, over the same straight mile as Saturday’s race, and the Prix Jacques Le Marois, as well as second places in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes and the Prix du Moulin. De Sousa has also won the QIPCO 1000 Guineas on Charyn’s stable-mate Elmalka, another chance ride, as well as the German 2000 Guineas and the Italian Oaks. 

He said: “It was great to find a horse like Charyn to take me through the season. He’s been improving since day one, when he started in a Listed race, and he has gone on to win a Group 2 and the Group 1s at Royal Ascot and Deauville. You could say he’s unlucky not to be unbeaten this year, as things went against him in the Lockinge (second to Audience) and it was a similar story last time in the Moulin (second again, to Tribaliste). 

“It’s been a good season apart from the recent suspension, and now I’m looking forward to Saturday. It’s been a long three weeks that I’ve been off, and I don’t agree with it as I’m being punished twice, but I’m back in time for Champions Day and I’m looking forward to Charyn. 

“He had a racecourse gallop at Newmarket last week and I rode him again in his final bit of work on Tuesday morning. He’s very laid back, and he only does what you ask him to do. You have to ask him questions at the right time, but he’s in very good form.”  

Facteur Cheval, who was a six-length second to Big Rock here a year ago, was only sixth behind Charyn in the Queen Anne, but he found himself stranded out in the middle of the track that day and so can be excused. He won the Dubai Turf in the Spring and merits plenty of respect.  

Trainer Jerome Reynier is expecting a bold show and said: “I think you can forget about his run in the Queen Anne Stakes as he lost a shoe and raced on the wrong side of the track. I thought he ran a good race at Goodwood (third in Sussex Stakes), even though the ground was a little bit too firm for him, and I think we have him in better shape now.” 

Metropolitan, who gave trainer Mario Baratti a first Classic win when beating Dancing Gemini in the French 2000 Guineas, was a three-length second to Charyn in the Marois, where Quddwah was virtually upsides. Baratti expects him to get closer here and said: “Metropolitan has improved again since the Jacques le Marois. He is getting stronger all the time and I have been very happy with his preparation. 

“I believe we can get closer to Charyn this time. Charyn was very impressive at Deauville but, in my opinion, he is better on good ground, whereas I think our horse is better on soft ground and that will help our chance.” 

Aidan O’Brien’s Henry Longfellow was down the field after a troubled run when favourite for the French Guineas but left that form behind when chasing home Rosallion in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Last time out he was three lengths behind Charyn in third at Longchamp. 

While Charyn faces several old foes, there are also some new ones, notably the supplemented Prague and the recent Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes winner Tamfana, who is joined by stable-mate Sirona.