Rahiebb

The career arc here is genuinely compelling. Rahiebb won for the first time at Newcastle in March 2025, then stepped up dramatically in class and ability. At Royal Ascot, running in one of the top races in Britain, he was slow out of the gates, misbehaved beforehand, failed to find a clear run — and still nearly won. Varian's assessment afterwards was candid: the horse was showing immaturity at every turn and yet he still thought he would win turning for home. That is a rare combination of raw talent and unpolished edges. The fact Varian called him the best horse in that race despite finishing off the podium tells you exactly how good this trainer thinks the ceiling is.

Then came Doncaster, and the St Leger — one of Britain's oldest and most famous flat races. Rahiebb hit the front in the final furlong and, for a moment, looked like the winner. He was eventually beaten by Scandinavia, a horse Varian openly called very good. Varian was proud and gutted in equal measure. That is the kind of run that stays with a yard.

The most recent form — 1-2-4-3-2-2 — reads like a horse that has gone from raw material to genuine contender. The win at York this week, just a day ago, is the latest chapter. Varian's operation is running at full tilt this season with 87 winners, so Rahiebb is not the only string to their bow — but the trainer's quotes suggest he is one of the most exciting. The fact he has yet to win at the top level, going 0 from 3 in Class 1 races, is the one thing holding the profile back — but when a trainer says "you'd have to dream," it is usually worth listening.