Late head of steam sees Avicenna take Flying Scotsman Stakes

Avicenna maintained a faultless start to his career as he got up on the line in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster, UK, on Friday, 12 September.

The Roger Varian-trained juvenile, lining up over the same course and distance as his promising debut success, was held up towards the rear in sixth of the eight runners by William Buick.

Having stayed on to go fifth a furlong and a half out, Avicenna closed powerfully on the leaders inside the final furlong and collared Hankelow in a head-bobbing finish for a nose verdict

Roger Varian, saddling his first Godolphin winner since Belardo captured the 2016 G1 Lockinge Stakes, said: “Avicenna is a lovely horse and I’m very grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and the Godolphin team for supporting me with a few horses this year. I’m delighted that this horse has made a winning start and backed it up today.

“A big shout-out to Robert Winston, who rides Avicenna a lot at home and has done a super job with him. It was a really good performance – he is learning on the job and was strong through the line, so he is a horse to look forward to.

“He is a very good-moving horse, who has taken a while to furnish into his frame. He made a good debut, and we felt he had taken a big step forward at home since. I will watch this back and see how he comes out of the race, but he will get a mile well.”

William Buick added: “Avicenna did it very nicely. Once the penny dropped on his first start, he won nicely in the end, but the penny was in danger of not dropping in time today. He took a bit of organising about a furlong out and luckily had his head down at the right time. I think he is going to want faster ground. You would be confident of him getting a mile and you would even say that he will get it this year.”