Charyn shows his class to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes from Facteur Cheval

Charyn rounded off an outstanding season by defeating French contender Facteur Cheval to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO), ridden by Silvestre de Sousa.

Trained by Roger Varian, the four-year-old lived up to his 13-8 favourite status, securing his third Group 1 win of the year.

A son of Dark Angel, Charyn showed significant improvement from three to four, starting the season with a win in the Listed Doncaster Mile Stakes in March, where De Sousa first took the reins.

The duo followed that with a Group 2 victory in the bet365 Mile at Sandown before finishing second to Audience in the Lockinge Stakes. Charyn’s first top-level triumph came in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, and a return to the same course and distance saw the same result under De Sousa.

Facteur Cheval, runner-up in this race last year behind Big Rock, once again finished second, ridden by Maxime Guyon and trained by Jerome Reynier.

The Nurlan Bizakov-owned grey, who also claimed the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August, firmly established himself as the season’s top miler with a commanding two-length victory.

“He’s the finished article now,” Varian told ITV Racing. “He’s fully developed and at his peak. Hasn’t he been brilliant all year? I’m thrilled for Nurlan Bizakov and the team. It’s a fantastic result.”