Blacktype win for Voodoo Queen

Frankel filly Voodoo Queen registered a comfortable win in the Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes yesterday for her first blacktype success.

Taken from the Racing Post, 25th June 2023, by David Carr:

Roger Varian is a less frequent visitor to Pontefract than in his days as assistant to Michael Jarvis so we should have known something was afoot when he made the trip up from Newmarket. The in-form trainer, fresh from success at Royal Ascot with King Of Steel and Royal Champion, landed the £80,000 Listed Pontefract Castle Fillies' Stakes with Voodoo Queen to give owner-breeder Craig Bennett his 100th Flat winner.

Varian, who took over the licence on Jarvis's death in 2011, said: "I used to come here a lot. This was great prize-money and it's a big thumbs-up to Pontefract. Voodoo Queen is a lovely filly, we've always really liked her. I'm delighted she's progressed to win a Listed race for Craig and I hope she can go on from here."

He continued: "Craig has been a big supporter since I started training and has invested a lot in the game in the last 20 years. He sent this filly's dam, Cursory Glance, to train and she was a very good two-year-old, winning the Albany [Gr.3] and Moyglare Stud Stakes [Gr.1]."

Voodoo Queen gave jockey David Egan his fourth winner of the weekend following a Saturday treble at Redcar, and may have more to offer.

Varian said: "She's four years old and still a touch unfurnished. I think she'll only improve and hope she can win a Group race. The Lillie Langtry is an option, as is the Lancashire Oaks and the Prix de Pomone. There's a nice programme for these fillies."

Bennett, best known as the owner of Ebor winner and Melbourne Cup runner-up Purple Moon, said: "That was very pleasing. Not every horse handles Pontefract, but David gave her a lovely ride and she won by quite a distance."