SHEIKH Hamdan’s debutante Varachino  (9-2, headline photo) made a winning start to her career with a 0.75-length success in a Maiden Juvenile contest over 1000m at Clairwood, Tuesday.

Handled by the in-form Warren Kennedy, the Avontuur-bred kept going to hold off her rivals, including the 22-10 favourite Suri, a length behind her in third.

Varachino drifted in the betting and assistant trainer Nathan Kotzen commented: “We fancied Varachino but there was a lot of talk for Robbie Hill’s filly and I suppose that’s why our filly lacked market support. She was green and got a bit tired in the last bit, but she will improve.”

Varachino is by Var from the Gr2 winning mare Mochachino, who was primarily a sprinter but won up to a mile.

 Improving steadily: Serruria (GB) is showing an affinity for the winner’s enclosure.

Anthony Delpech booted home two more winners for Mike’s Summerveld team, with the string hitting good form under Kotzen and company.

Galileo’s daughter Serruria picked up a seven-point penalty for a 3.25-length win in MR68 company, slamming her field over 2000m in a confident follow-up win. Gaynor Rupert’s four-year-old filly is well on the up. On the evidence of this win, off her 69 rating, she’d be an attractive prospect wherever she lines up next time.

“Being six months behind the other fillies here, Serruria was always a bit light, but she’s filling out now, getting stronger and improving steadily. She won’t stop here,” Kotzen said.

Cinchona likes getting in at the front end of the pack and will try to do so again.

We anticipated more wins from the initially struggling Cinchona when he won his Maiden last time and Rupert Plersch’s gelding by Fort Wood stepped up to MR70 class and won again, staying on well over 2000m. As noted last time, he’s bred to improve with maturity and Kotzen confirmed: “Cinchona’s getting confident. He has at least another win coming.”