Belardo takes the Dewhurst for Varian

Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni have already experienced the greatest year of their careers and it got better still when Belardo burst back on to the scene in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

The down-to-earth pair, who will not be together as frequently next season with Atzeni signed up as Qatar Racing's first jockey, combined for a debut Classic last month with Kingston Hill in the St Leger.

At that same Doncaster meeting Belardo was a soundly beaten fourth behind Estidhkaar in the Champagne Stakes, but the pair filled the exact opposite positions in this British two-year-old championship event.

The 11-8 favourite Estidhkaar was painfully slow out of the stalls and was continuing a glum sequence of results during the afternoon for aspiring champion trainer Richard Hannon.

Belardo (10-1) had started off looking like a juvenile to follow, seemingly in need of experience when fourth to Ivawood in the July Stakes and then handsomely winning the Washington Singer at Newbury.

In a bid to make him more amenable, Varian fitted Prince Faisal's colt with a hood, and while the plan worked, Atzeni still had to make sure he was not permanently trapped on the rail and be unable to retrieve the front-running Kodi Bear.

There was no need to panic as the gap soon came, with Belardo sweeping past Kodi Bear and passing the line two lengths in front of Clive Cox's honest challenger.

Varian said: "It's been a great year. Winning a Classic was huge, but we've had a few other highlights. Cursory Glance (the Moyglare Stud Stakes winner) looks top class, and this fellow looks top class, too.

"This horse will have confidence going into the winter now. We will now have to dream about the 2000 Guineas. It's a lovely way to end the season.

"You can't come into these races and expect to win, because they are so hot. On paper, he had to turn round a couple of lengths with Estidhkaar and that one gave us 3lb and a beating at Doncaster.

"I know Andrea thought he'd win that day, but it was a messy race - they went slow and he ran too free, basically. Today was a truly run race. I don't think soft ground is essential but he obviously handles it and he has a very sharp turn of foot, which he showed today.

"He wouldn't need a Guineas prep. He's a very clear-winded horse and a great worker at home. We will see. I learned with Kingston Hill that you can't predict your path. No bold statements - options are open."

A clearly impressed Atzeni added: "When I first sat on him I said to Roger that he was one of the best two-year-olds I have ever sat on. When I sat on Kingston Hill, he never gave me this sort of feel. This fellow give me the feel to be a top horse and he showed that today.

"I don't know what's behind me, but when I pulled up Adam Kirby (Kodi Bear) said 'that's a proper horse', because I went past his like he was standing still."

Cox said of the runner-up: "He has come here and run with huge credit. I think he will keep us all warm through the winter ahead of next year. He has come here 30 kilos heavier than when he won at Ascot and that bodes well for the future. As for the ground, he is quite versatile and we can relax in that respect."

Aidan O'Brien's Smuggler's Cove, who bolted up at Dundalk a week earlier, was two and a half lengths back in third.

"The race may have come a bit too soon for him but it was still a good run. That is probably it for the year now and we will get him started back early next season," said O'Brien.

Paul Hanagan told the stewards Estidhkaar hung right during the race, but no abnormalities were found by the vets.