Shouldering a three-pound penalty for winning a Group 1 in Dubai, the 8-year-old grey Lord Glitters produced a remarkable performance to claim a thrilling renewal of the £500,000 (about US$565,000) Group 3 Bahrain International Trophy for trainer David O'Meara, owners Geoff & Sandra Turnbull and young jockey Jason Watson.
With his usual jockey Danny Tudhope injured, Jason Watson stepped in for the ride and judged the pace to perfection. With a frenetic early gallop set by Pogo, Watson and Lord Glitters sat at the rear of the 13-strong field before picking off his younger rivals one by one. It looked as though it would be yet more big race international success for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin, as Barney Roy got the better of Magny Cours in the final two furlongs, but the oldest horse in the race knuckled down and accelerated past the pair to win by a half-length, with Magny Cours a neck back in third.
An ecstatic David O'Meara paid tribute to “a horse of a lifetime” after the race.
He said: “There are no words! He is a fantastic horse; I might have been quoted in the past saying that he is a horse of a lifetime and I think he is for us. 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.”
O'Meara was also full of praise for his jockey after the race.
On Watson, he said: “Jason is a hell of a talent. He has given him a fantastic ride; it is the first time he has ridden the horse in a race so he couldn't have had a better start!”
Watson himself was pinching himself after the race, he said: “I'm delighted. We went hard early on, and the main job was to get him to relax, and he relaxed very well for me. At halfway, they slowed right up to give the horses who were making the pace a breather, but that also enabled us to have a breather. Turning in, I could see a couple of horses starting to come under pressure including Zakouski. The best horse to follow in my opinion was Barney Roy, so I tracked him through and once we found clear daylight, we just mowed them down. He kept going right to the line. He's such a genuine horse, and I'm just really, really happy.”
Watson is no stranger to big race international races and has won Group 1 races in Italy and Germany, but he admitted to feeling the pressure of riding a horse like Lord Glitters.
He continued: “It's truly special. I'm just very fortunate that I've had a lot of success when I've gone abroad. I've won quite a few prestigious races now, but every time you do, you just have to pinch yourself. There was a big amount of pressure on me coming out here to ride a horse like Lord Glitters, who is such a legend of the sport and so well supported back home. I'm just pleased that he pulled it out the bag for me today.”
After being elevated to Group 3 status for the first time, it was the two Group 1 and Royal Ascot-winning horses that filled the first two positions which delighted the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club's Executive Director Shaikh Salman bin Rashed Alkhalifa.
He said: “To have had two Group One winners fighting out the finish was very special. On paper, it looked a very strong renewal for a Group Three and so it proved. Lord Glitters and Barney Roy are very well-known horses who have won Group One races in multiple countries. It was a thrilling race to watch, and we are very excited to see how the race can progress in future years.”
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 wasquickly 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.
This is not another article exclaiming that racers by the legendary Galileo (by Sadler's Wells) won all the Group 1 stakes over the weekend. Indeed, from 10 G1s on Saturday and Sunday, they won “only” four of those: marvelous Magical (Irish Champion), Search for a Song (Irish St. Leger), Mogul (Grand Prix de Paris), and Shale (Moyglare Stud Stakes).
Instead, this is an article about how the Galileo daughters and a particular son of the old boy are doing.
The son is English Derby winner Australia (out of Oaks winner Ouija Board), who sired his first Group 1 winner in Galileo Chrome, the winner of the Group 1 St. Leger at Doncaster. The oddly-named Galileo Chrome – who's a plain bay – galloped comfortably to the outside of the well-regarded Pyledriver for most of the mile and three-quarters and 115 yards, then maneuvered through traffic, and finished fastest to win the longest classic.
A winner in his three prior starts, including the Yeats Stakes at Navan on his last outing, Galileo Chrome is a progressive colt who appears to have a lot of scope and can only improve for greater maturity and strength.
In addition to the winner of the St. Leger, Australia sired Cayenne Pepper, who won the G2 Blandford Stakes at the Curragh from Galileo's daughter Amma Grace. Also this weekend, Australia had the third-place racer behind Shale in the Group 1 race mentioned above.
Shale and other daughters of Galileo are broodmare prospects of a high order, and they tend to go to some of the better sires around the world. Over the past weekend, one daughter of Galileo was the dam of the winner of the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, Barney Roy, and another daughter produced Ghaiyyath, who was second to Magical in the Irish Champion.
Barney Roy's dam, Alina, was unplaced in a pair of starts, whereas the dam of Ghaiyyath is Nightime, winner of the 2006 Irish 1,000 Guineas. The simple statistics of racing success, with about 3 percent stakes winners to foals, mean that far more of any stallion's racers will fail than will succeed at a high level. Therefore, some nice prospects and subsequent producers will show little on the racetrack.
Another of the great sire's non-winning daughters produced Pista, this year's winner of the Park Hill Stakes, which is the filly equivalent to the St. Leger.
In her third victory from four starts, Pista has risen rapidly since winning a maiden at Galway in early August to become a listed stakes winner and now a group winner.
Bred in Kentucky by Lynch Bages Ltd. and a $675,000 yearling at the 2018 Keeneland September sale, Pista is out of Mohini, a daughter of the Storm Cat mare Denebola, who was the highweight 2-year-old filly in France in 2003 after victory in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac.
That proved the high point of Denebola's racing, but she has three stakes-producing daughters, including Beta Leo (A.P. Indy), who is the dam of Senga (Blame), winner of the G1 Prix de Diane.
And the sire of Pista?
American Pharoah.
Four Star Sales's Tony Lacy acted as agent for the Heider family in the purchase and recalled the process that led to the acquisition of Pista. He said, “We'd been looking at the first-crop yearlings by American Pharoah and had been very impressed. They were largely big, athletic prospects with scope and great minds. With their bone and toughness, I thought they might be very effective on turf.
“And this prolific family, that had been developed in the Niarchos family stud for generations, had a lot of turf excellence that I'd seen first-hand during my time working in France. This is the family of the highweight filly Coup de Folie, her full brother Machiavellian” (both by Mr. Prospector), who was a highweight on the European handicaps and then a leading sire, “and it goes right on back to a half-sister to Northern Dancer.”
Yeah, nice family.
As an individual, Lacy noted, “This filly was a big yearling who turned into a growthy 2-year-old, and we decided not to race her at 2 because she wasn't ready. Even early at three, she didn't show much promise until the late spring and early summer, and then she began to come on so strongly that Joseph O'Brien (who trains the filly) became optimistic about her debut. Pista, however, walked out of the gate and raced greenly.
“Joseph said the penny dropped after the first race, and in her second start, Pista jumped off nicely, laid up with the pace, and powered away to win her maiden” by 6 1/2 lengths at Galway. “Then we stepped her up to a listed race against colts,” Lacy continued, “in the Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown.”
The elegant filly won again, this time while competing at a mile and three-quarters and winning from Sunchart (Teofilo) and Dawn Patrol (Galileo), who ran eighth and sixth respectively in the St. Leger. So that is positive form suggesting that Pista could have beaten at least half the field in the classic.
Another reason that the connections, including the trainer, were quite pleased with the effort at Leopardstown is that Pista “is so laid back on the gallops that she doesn't show what she's capable of till she's put in a race,” Lacy said. “So we said, 'let's try the Park Hill,' and that result was a resounding 'yes.' The plan now is to go for the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu on the Arc weekend.”
That will be a further step up in a race that typically draws a set of experienced Group 1 fillies, three and up, but with the mental and physical toughness of the American Pharoah and Galileo stock, don't discount her chances.
Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Masaaki Matsushima's multiple Group 1-stakes winning 4-year-old Japan (GB) headlines Wednesday's (June 17) US$317,000 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, with the winner earning an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races, whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course, in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov 6-7.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Prince of Wales's to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 ½ miles over the Keeneland turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a minimum travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must already be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program or it must be nominated by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of October 26 to receive the rewards.
The Prince of Wales's Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles, is the second of four Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” races to be conducted during the Royal Ascot meeting. The Prince of Wales's will be televised by NBCSN and TVG on Wednesday at approximately 10 a.m. ET in the U.S.
Japan, a bay son of Galileo (IRE), trained by Aidan O'Brien, will be making his first start of the year after becoming one of Europe's top 3-year-olds of 2019. Following a third-place finish in the Investec Derby (G1) at Epsom, Japan began a three-race win streak with a dominant 4 ½-length victory in the 1 ½-mile King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. It was on to France next for the 1½-mile Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1), the traditional Bastille Day (July 14) feature at ParisLongchamp. Japan took the lead inside 1 ½ furlongs and fought off Slalom (FR) to win by a half-length.
Back in Britain in September, Japan faced older horses for the first time in the Juddmonte International (G1) at York, where he engaged Crystal Ocean (GB) in a dramatic stretch drive and wore down his rival in the final 50 yards to prevail by a head under Ryan Moore. Japan returned to ParisLongchamp for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Troimphe (G1) in October. He was in contention closing inside the furlong marker but was passed by Waldgeist (GB) on the outside, and wound up fourth. Moore has the mount again on Wednesday.
Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's 6-year-old Addeybb (IRE), another returning Royal Ascot winner, scored Group 1 triumphs in Australia this year while racing was suspended in Britain due to the coronavirus outbreak. Addeybb, a gelded bay son of Pivotal (GB) out of the Kingmambo mare Bush Cat, and trained by William Haggas, captured the 1 ¼-mile Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on March 21 and 1 ¼-mile Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick in Sydney on April 11.
Sporting a solid record of nine wins in 17 starts, Addeybb won the listed 1 ¼-mile Wolferton Stakes by 2 ½ lengths over Magic Wand (IRE) last June at the Royal Meeting. He started next as the 11-8 favorite in the 1 3/8-mile Sky Bet Stakes (G2) at York on July 27, finishing second to Elarqam (GB), but rebounded on Aug. 10 at Haydock, winning the 1 3/8-mile Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (GB) by 2 ¼ lengths. He closed out the year chasing Magical (IRE) down the stretch in the 1 ¼-mile QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot, but finished second by three-quarters of a lengths. Tom Marquand has the mount on Addeybb.
Godolphin's 6-year-old gelding Barney Roy (GB), trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, is out for a bit of redemption this year after finishing eighth as the 5-1 favorite in the 2019 Queen Anne, which was his last race of the season. Like Addeybb, Barney Roy has been winning races outside of Britain this year. A bay son of Excelebration (IRE), Barney Roy was in Meydan this winter, taking the Al Rashidiya Stakes (G2) on Jan. 30 and Jebel Hatta Stakes (G1) on March 7, both at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
As a 3-year-old, Barney Roy won the 2017 St. James's Palace (G1) at Royal Ascot, and was retired after that season. However, he proved to be subfertile at stud and was returned to racing in 2019 as a gelding.
Prince Khalid Abdullah's 4-year-old Headman (GB), making his Ascot debut, won three consecutive races last year trainer Roger Charlton. A bay son Kingman (GB), Headman took the ungraded London Gold Cup Handicap last May at Newberry, setting up a bigger score in June at Saint-Cloud in France, where he captured the 1 ¼-mile Prix Eugene Adam (G2) by three lengths. He was in the winner's circle again in France in August, finishing a head in front of Roman Candle (GB) as the 3-5 favorite in the 1 ¼-mile Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain (G2) at Deauville. Headman stepped into Group 1 company for the first time on Sept. 14 in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. After rearing at the start and trailing the field, he made a bid in mid-stretch but could not sustain the drive and finished fifth. Jason Watson will ride Headman.
Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing's 4-year-old gelding Lord North (IRE), trained by John Gosden and ridden by James Doyle, comes into the race off a win in the 1 ¼-mile Betway Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) at Haydock on June 7. A bay son of Dubawi (IRE), Lord North had two second-place finishes at Ascot last year in Class 2, 1-mile races. Following a runner-up placing in the Balmoral Handicap on Oct. 19, Lord North closed out the season with a victory in the listed 1 ¼-mile James Seymour Stakes at Newmarket on Nov. 2.
Frankie Dettori has the mount on the Gosden-trained 4-year-old filly Mehdaayih (GB). Owned by Emirates Park Pty Ltd., Mehdaayih has won four races in 10 starts, including the Group 2 Prix de Malleret last June at Saint-Cloud. She was second to Deirdre (JPN) in the Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) at Goodwood in August. Continuing in Group 1 company, she finished 10th in the Prix de l'Opera Longines at ParisLongchamp in October and in fifth in the Champion Stakes later that month at Ascot.
King Power Racing has entered the 4-year-old Bangkok (IRE), who finished second to Japan in the last year's King Edward VII. Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, the bay son of Australia (GB) raced twice in Derby trial stakes on the all-weather surface at Lingfield in February, winning the listed event on Feb. 1 and coming in third in the Group 3 Derby Trial on Feb. 22.
The Prince of Wales's Stakes joins Tuesday's Queen Anne (G1) (TVG Mile), Friday's Norfolk Stakes (G2) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) and Saturday's Diamond Jubilee (G1) (Turf Sprint) as the four Breeders' Cup Challenge races to be run at the 2020 Royal Meeting.
