Jabaara Aims to Repeat Triumph in Edinburgh Gin Queen of Scots Stakes at Musselburgh Racecourse

Staged over nine-furlongs, the race is designed as a stepping-stone to Royal Ascot’s, the Britannia Stakes for colts and geldings and the Sandringham Stakes for fillies and mares, and last year’s Musselburgh winner, Watcha Matey, was a respectable eighth of 29 in the Britannia Stakes.

Sallaal was impressive at Hamilton Park a month ago and carries the colours of Sheikh Ahmed al Maktoum for his handicap debut, while Varian has enjoyed three winners from his eleven previous runners at Musselburgh.

Middleham trainer Charlie Johnston is triple-handed with Thunder Wonder, Bassadanza and Hot Property, while recent Newbury third Regalian is an interesting entry for Newmarket trainer William Haggas.

Having won last year’s race by a comfortable two lengths, Jabaara and Silvestre De Sousa are likely to go again for the £50,000 Class 1 Listed Edinburgh Gin Queen Of Scots British EBF Fillies’ Stakes over seven-furlongs.

Another Roger Varian raider for the same owner as Sallaal, she is the top-rated of the 19 entries with a BHA mark of 107 and she was a subsequent Group 1 and Group 3 runner-up in 2024. She was also just pipped by a neck in a Group 3 contest at Lingfield four weeks ago.

Her likely rivals could include David O’Meara-trained Sunfall, rated 102 after her win in Listed company at Ascot last October.

The Edinburgh Cup meeting, in partnership with Edinburgh Gin, is one of Musselburgh’s most prestigious racedays over the summer season and entries for the two feature races have held up well, said racecourse director Bill Farnsworth.

He said: “It will be great to see Roger Varian’s Jabaara back to see if she can repeat her win last year in our only Class 1 Listed race at Musselburgh, The Edinburgh Gin Queen of Scots Stakes.

“She went on to finish second in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at the Newmarket July Festival and the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

“Across the card we are delighted with the quality of entries, which underlines the ongoing popularity of our Edinburgh Cup meeting, and we are set for a fantastic Saturday afternoon of racing.”

Gates open on Saturday at 11.15am, and the first and last races are scheduled for 1.20pm and 4.55pm, respectively. The Betfred Derby will be screened around the course live from Epsom.