Silvestre De Sousa partnered with Roger Varian's Charyn to secure the opening Listed William Hill Doncaster Mile on Saturday. The 43-year-old Brazilian-born rider received a ten-month suspension for violating betting rules while riding in Hong Kong but has recently made a strong comeback in the UK.
Positioned towards the rear of the divided field during the initial stages of the mile race, Silvestre De Sousa and Charyn began their advance as last year's champion, Astral Beau, accelerated the pace approaching the two-furlong mark. However, the elegant grey swiftly gained the upper hand and quickly surged ahead, achieving a commanding victory by a margin of three and a half lengths.
"He's a delightful horse, but he seemed a bit sluggish out there," remarked De Sousa, who guided the 2/1 favourite to a comfortable triumph. "He ultimately responded really well. The pace wasn't particularly strong, so I adapted my riding to suit him."
A return to a higher class appears to be in store for last year's third-place finisher in the Sussex Stakes, as Roger Varian has identified the bet365 Mile at Sandown and the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May as potential targets.
Varian expressed, "It was a pleasing start to the season. Last year, he delivered some outstanding performances in the Irish Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes, and Sussex Stakes, facing formidable competition."
"He was a Group Two-winning two-year-old, and he has always been a promising horse. Last year, he faced significant challenges, so hopefully, this can be his year."
"He seems to have progressed well over the winter. He's stronger this year, and we were always keen to come here to secure a win and rebuild his confidence."
"I had concerns about the ground since, although he has performed well on testing surfaces, he excels on firmer ground. I believe he can handle any type of ground."
"I would like to target the Group Two race at Sandown (bet365 Mile) and then proceed to the Lockinge."