Zabeel Prince made all the running in a triumphant first start for 154 days in the Unibet Doncaster Mile at the South Yorkshire course.
Andrea Atzeni dictated affairs in the six-runner field and tried to save something for the finish on the testing ground.
Born To Be Alive put in a stern challenge, but Zabeel Prince showed his class by pulling away in the closing stages to score by two and a half lengths. Another Touch was third.
Tabarrak's comeback run after 183 days off the track proved disappointing, as he weakened quite a way from home.
Varian said of the 10-11 favourite: "He's quite good my horse I think, and I thought Andrea was good on him. I was a bit worried when we were in front and concerned we'd run a bit fresh, but the horse switched off nicely.
"Andrea waited as long as he could until he asked him for his effort. I thought Karl's (Burke) horse was going to grab us two furlongs from home, but in fairness to the horse he dug deep and it was a good performance.
"I think he is better with a lead, most horses are, but it looked like being tactical. We would have taken a lead, but if there wasn't anything obvious the plan was to keep it simple."
He added: "Sheikh Mohammed Obaid been very patient with his horse. He's five years old and only had six starts. There has never been any pressure from the owner to run him any more than we have, but I think he could be rewarded this year.
"He's a talented horse and I think he'll peak as a five-year-old. I will speak with his owner, but I'm sure he'll be in all the good mile races.
"Whether he recovers in time to go to Sandown for the Group Two, we'll have to see, but he'll probably warrant an entry in the Lockinge. Pattern races will be his future. We'll get today out of the way. I hope we'll have a good year."
Varian went on: "He hasn't even been on the grass yet, so it was difficult to gauge how fit he was. I haven't had many runners in the winter and he was always going to be my first runner, I had nothing to go against so it's pleasing he was fit enough to win.
"My first ever winner, Eton Forever, was in the Spring Mile here and this is my seventh year now. I certainly wasn't as grey that day.
"Andrea was a bit worried, he thought he wasn't going to go anywhere when Born To Be Alive came upsides, but he's probably never been in that position before and it took him 100 yards to get his head down and kick into gear.
"I think he'll stay further than a mile on better ground but he doesn't lack speed, he was last off the bridle there and has the pace to win over seven."
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