Varian believes Defoe a worthy favourite Roger Varian believes Defoe “deserves to be favourite” for the Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. The Dalakhani colt won four races on the bounce last season, before failing to fire when well fancied for the St Leger at Doncaster. He got his career back on track when making a successful start to the new campaign in last month’s John Porter at Newbury, however, and will have his sights raised to Group Two level on the Rowley Mile after being added to the Jockey Club Stakes at a cost of £6,000. Varian said: “He is in good form. He came out of the Newbury so well. It was a kind first run for him and he didn’t have a hard race. He really is bouncing at home and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has supplemented him. “I think he deserves to be favourite — it’s never easy at that level and it will be in a tough race, but he is in good form. “He is a pretty good horse and he was most of last year. You can put a line through the St Leger as he was not quite right when he came home that day. “Take the St Leger run away and he has done nothing but improve over the last 12 months.” Defoe is a red-hot favourite to see off just four rivals. Andrew Balding’s Count Octave reverts to turf after making a successful return on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, while the Clive Cox-trained Khalidi drops in grade after failing to make an impact in the Dubai Sheema Classic on his latest appearance. David Elsworth’s Winter Derby winner Master The World and Red Verdon from Ed Dunlop’s yard complete the line-up.
