By Emma Berry
SAKHIR, Bahrain–He's been a star of Royal Ascot and a star of Meydan, and on Bahrain's biggest race day the charismatic Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) triumphed once more, snatching the G3 Bahrain International Trophy from the Godolphin duo of Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) and Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro) with a perfectly timed late run.
His trainer David O'Meara had warned earlier in the week that his 8-year-old stable star comes alive in the heat of the Middle East and under an excellent ground-saving ride from Jason Watson, the popular grey charged from last to first down the middle of the straight to win by half a length from his fellow multiple Group 1 winner Barney Roy.
“I might have been quoted in the past saying that he is a horse of a lifetime and I think he is for us,” said O'Meara, who excels in sending older horses far and wide to race him his Yorkshire stable.
“He has proved it once again and we don't have loads of horses like him, so he is very special to us. His last two runs weren't ideal, but the races hadn't work out for him. His run in August in the Strensall Stakes gave us confidence that he would be competitive in this race. He did well in Dubai last year and that is the plan again if he comes out of this race well. The Saudi Cup meeting is an option now so we will bring him home and see how he is and start planning for that.”
He added, “We came here last year and finished fifth in a steadily run race that was won from the front but today there was a lot of talk that it was going to be well run which we were delighted to hear. Going abroad to win any big race is brilliant but out here is really classy.”
While it was a return visit to the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) for horse and trainer, for jockey Jason Watson, who had been called in to replace injured stable jockey Danny Tudhope, it was a first visit to the Bahrain track with major plans for expansion on the horizon.
Describing Watson's ride as “absolutely brilliant”, O'Meara added, “Jason is a hell of a talent. He's substituting for Danny today but he's done a fantastic job.”
Lord Glitters, who races in the colours of Sandra Turnbull and her late husband Geoff, cannot be described as the most straightforward of horses. An exuberant worker in the mornings, he was on his toes entering the paddock and scattered some of those gathered in the enclosure as he veered off the path and onto the grass. O'Meara was clearly anxious to get Watson aboard and to post early while the jockey was temporarily delayed as he lined up for a team photo with his fellow riders.
Once safely installed in gate 12, Lord Glitters then jumped slightly awkwardly, missing the break, and was quickly switched to the inside rail by Watson who dropped him in at the back of the pack on a track which can often favour front-runners. But with early leader Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) being taken on up front by Dubai Future (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the early pace appeared to be strong, with the eventual first five home all coming from relatively far back. Watson was content to bide his time at the rear as a tightly-packed field swung wide off the turn, and he gradually inched his mount towards the centre, stalking the Andre Fabre-trained Magny Cours as he tussled with his fellow Godolphin runner Barney Roy.
The victory clearly meant much to the quietly spoken Watson, who parted company with Roger Charlton in July after three years as his stable jockey.
“For me, having my first race over here and my first ride aboard him it's a big deal,” said the 21-year-old. “I've recently connected to David O'Meara's yard and to have a big winner for him like this is very special.”
He added of Lord Glitters, who was winning for the tenth time from 42 starts in six different countries, “He ran a creditable race last year and you could see when he finished his racing in Dubai after coming here last year he has just taken a bit of time to get ready. But he's come here in tiptop form, he's carried a penalty and he was by far the best horse in the race.”
Watson continued, “He's an old horse and he knows his job very well. David said to me 'ride him to be placed, don't go into it thinking you're going to win', because he's the type of horse who is best left alone. You just have to have a bit of faith in him and let him do it himself.
“To be honest I was hoping that we did half-miss the break because he can have a tendency to race a bit too freely early on but I was very lucky he was kind to me today. I'm just a passenger on a horse like this–he's been there and got the t-shirt. He clearly retains his ability very well and it wasn't that long ago he was winning a Group 1 in Meydan. He's a true champion.”
It has been a magnificent season for Britain's champion trainer-elect Charlie Appleby, who arrived in Bahrain fresh from his treble at the Breeders' Cup, but he had to settle for second this time around with Barney Roy, while his other runner, the favourite Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal), finished tenth of the 13 runners. With just a neck separating Barney Roy and Magny Cours, Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), who has been the exercise companion of Lord Glitters all week, was another to run home strongly to collect fourth place for Richard Fahey and the Nick Bradley Racing syndicate. She will be seen next on the Tuesday of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale when she will be offered as lot 1758.
In its first year with Group 3 status, the Bahrain International Trophy can be credited with having drawn a strong line-up, with two former Group 1 winners filling the top two places. A number of trainers associated with runners on the day had commented in the build-up to the race that the competition was stronger than they had anticipated and, as outlined by the REHC executive director Shaikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa on the eve of the meeting, the club has plans to expand its international race day. First, though, it will oversee the launch of the 10-race Turf Series which it is hoped will also attract plenty of international participation from December to February.
A number of European jockeys are currently based in Bahrain throughout this winter, including John and David Egan and Neil Callan, and Watson clearly wouldn't mind returning before too long.
Having arrived in Bahrain on Tuesday evening to accompany Lord Glitters on two mornings of track work, he said, “I'm one of these people who usually likes to fly in and fly out and not hang around too long, but I have enjoyed every minute of my time here. The track rides incredibly well considering the climate they have to contend with over here and this race is only going to get bigger and bigger.”
Pedigree notes
Bred in Normandy, Lord Glitters hails from a family long developed by the Lepeudry family of the Elevage de Tourgeville, who bred him in partnership with Hilary Erculiani. He is a son of the dual listed-placed Lady Glitters (Fr) (Homme de Loi {Fr}), herself a half-sister to stakes winners Grey Glitters (Fr) (Grey Risk {Fr}) and Loupy Glitters (Fr) (Loup Solitaire). That trio's dam, Marie Glitters (Crystal Glitters), is a half-sister to the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air winner Marie De Ken (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}), whose descendants include the dual group winner and Group 1-placed Ana Marie (Fr) (Anabaa), the listed-winning and Group 1-placed Ana Americana (Fr) (American Post {GB}) and the American Grade II winner Charmo (Fr) (Charnwood Forest {Ire}). Along with eight winning offspring, Lady Glitters has a once-raced 2-year-old filly by Zarak (Fr) named Princess Glitters (Fr) and she foaled a colt in April by Shalaa (Ire).
Friday, Sakhir, Bahrain
BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL TROPHY-G3, £525,001, 3yo/up, 1m2fT, gd.
1-LORD GLITTERS (FR), 131, g, 8, by Whipper
1st Dam: Lady Glitters (Fr), by Homme de Loi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Marie Glitters, by Crystal Glitters
3rd Dam: Marie De Vez (Fr), by Crystal Palace (Fr)
(€25,000 yrl '14 AROOCT; €270,000 HRA '17 ARQJUL) O-
Geoff & Sandra Turnbull; B-Sca Elevage De Tourgeville & Mme
Hilary Erculiani; T-David O'Meara. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng
& UAE, 42-10-10-5. £262,500. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2-Barney Roy (GB), 128, g, 7, Excelebration (Ire)-Alina (Ire), by
Galileo (Ire). (30,000gns wnl '14 TATNOV; £70,000 yrl '15
DNPAUG) O-Godolphin; B-Eliza Park International Pty Ltd; T-
Charlie Appleby. £131,250.
3-Magny Cours, 128, g, 6, Medaglia d'Oro-Indy Five Hundred,
by A.P. Indy. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Godolphin; T-A Fabre.
£65,625.
Margins: 1/2, NK, 2. Also Ran: Fev Rover (Ire), Cadillac (Ire), What A Welcome (GB), Dubai Future (GB), Naamoos (Fr), Victory Chime (Ire), Zakouski (GB), Penja (Fr), Pogo (Ire), Emperor Of The Sun (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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