VARIAN LAUNCHES DUAL RAID

Roger Varian launches a dual assault on Dubai Future Champions Day at Newmarket on Saturday with both Ektihaam and Sri Putra aiming to continue their handler's excellent first season as a trainer.

Ektihaam lines up in the £317,000 Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes and takes a step up in class after winning his two starts to date.

Varian commented: "Ektihaam has done nothing wrong on the track so far. "He's a horse we like and he has been working well at home, but on official ratings he has a big jump to make."

Sri Putra, who contests the Group Three £50,000 Darley Stakes, was third in the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and the Group One Coral-Eclipse at Sandown the following month.

The five-year-old, a Group Two winner over 10 furlongs at Deauville in 2009, bids to bounce back to his best after coming home fifth in the Arc trial at Newbury last time.

Varian continued: "Sri Putra is in great form. The ground was a bit sticky for him at Newbury last time and he perhaps needed the run as he'd been off the track a while. The fast ground will suit and we're very hopeful of a good run."

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