David O'Meara | Horse Racing Free Tips

Glitters Shines Again In The Desert

Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) may have technically had his finest hour three years ago when winning the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot, but it is nonetheless very difficult to knock the form that the 9-year-old has been in as of late. Geoff and Sandra Turnbull's remarkably consistent grey turned back the clock when winning the G1 Jebel Hatta and G2 Singspiel S. at last year's carnival, and he proved in fine form still at Meydan on Friday when repeating in the latest edition of the Singspiel S.

Lord Glitters, who has hit the board in 26 of 44 runs, made his first extended carnival visit last season, wrapping up a highly productive season highlighted by the two aforementioned pattern wins when splitting the field in sixth in the G1 Dubai Turf. Lord Glitters then returned to trainer David O'Meara's Yorkshire yard and made five starts during the British flat season, picking up a second in the G3 Strensall S. and fourth-placings in the G1 Lockinge S. and the Queen Anne before trailing home in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. over the soft ground. Rejuvenated by the Gulf sun, Lord Glitters bounced back to win the G3 Bahrain International Trophy on Nov. 19 and was fourth in the G2 Al Rashidiya on Jan. 21.

Dropping back from the get-go to take up his customary position in the rear of the field, Lord Glitters and Danny Tudhope watched on as Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) carved out the early running. Lord Glitters and Tudhope initially found themselves behind a wall of runners upon straightening for home, but they began their charge down the middle of the track when finding daylight shortly thereafter. Swooping out wide as his rival from last season, Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal), grabbed a premature lead inside the final furlong, Lord Glitters got his head in front in the dying strides and hit the wire a widening one length to the good.

Pedigree Notes

Lord Glitters is out of the multiple listed-placed Lady Glitters (Fr) (Homme De Loi {Ire}), who is also the second dam of the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron winner Petit Chevalier (Fr) (High Chaparral {Ire}). Lady Glitters's last reported foal is the unplaced 3-year-old Princess Glitters (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). Lady Glitters is a half-sister to stakes winners Grey Glitters (Fr) (Grey Risk {Fr}) and Loupy Glitters (Fr) (Loup Solitaire), while it is also the family of G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud scorer Morandi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
SINGSPIEL S. PRESENTED BY RACE OF UAE INNOVATES-G2, $180,000, Meydan, 2-11, 3yo/up, 9fT, 1:48.77, gd.
1–LORD GLITTERS (FR), 126, g, 9, by Whipper
1st Dam: Lady Glitters (Fr) (MSP-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 Ylg '14 AR14; €270,000 HRA '17 ARJUN). O-Geoff &
Sandra Turnbull; B-SCA Elevage de Tourgeville & Mme Hilary
Erculiani (FR); T-David O'Meara; J-Daniel Tudhope. $108,000.
Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng & UAE, 44-11-10-5, $2,048,244.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A++.
2–Royal Fleet (GB), 126, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Zibelina (Ire), by
Dansili (GB). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. $36,000.
3–Zakouski (GB), 126, g, 6, Shamardal–O'Giselle (Aus), by
Octagonal (NZ). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby.
$18,000.
Margins: 1, 3/4, HD. Also Ran: Freescape (GB), Kick On (GB), Bedouin's Story (GB), Art Du Val (GB), Sir Busker (Ire), Enemy (GB), Passion and Glory (Ire), Court House (Ire). Scratched: Alfareeq (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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Lord Glitters Returns Friday At Meydan To Attempt Back-To-Back Singspiel Victories

There are plenty of Dubai World Cup pointers at Meydan Racecourse on Friday, when the track stages four Group races. The official feature is the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes over nine furlongs on turf, which sees popular grey Lord Glitters try to become the first horse to win back to back renewals.

“We're happy with his training and we thought he ran well enough the other night in his first run at Meydan this season,” said UK-based trainer David O'Meara. “He had a little break after Bahrain [G3 International Trophy, Nov. 19] and might have needed his first run back.”

It won't be easy for O'Meara's star as Charlie Appleby saddles Zakouski, who boasts an impressive track record, having won three of his four starts here. His only local defeat came at the hands of Lord Glitters in last year's Singspiel.

“He didn't see out the 1 1/4-mile trip when ninth in the Bahrain International Trophy last time,” said the UK Champion Trainer. “We think he'll be better down in trip in the Singspiel as he ran really well in the race last year.”

The strong field also includes Sir Busker, who makes his UAE debut for trainer William Knight, who experienced Carnival success back in 2007 when Illustrious Blue won at Nad Al Sheba. Third in the G1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in June, the 6-year-old represents Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds and will use this race as a prep for the G1 Emirates Airline Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday.

“We're excited to see Sir Busker line up in Friday's Singspiel Stakes,” said Sam Hoskins, Syndicate Manager for Kennet Valley.

“He travelled over well last weekend and has settled in nicely to life at Meydan. He has been working nicely at home in Newmarket and while he will improve a bit for the run (Super Saturday being the main aim), hopefully he will run a nice race here.”

There are two Group 3s on the card, including the UAE 2000 Guineas, which sees a rematch between the first three home in the Guineas Trial; Rawy, Quality Boone and Kiefer.

Rawy is owned by RRR Racing and trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer, who said: “He ran well in the Guineas Trial and came back from the race well; very sound.

“It's pretty much a similar field in the Guineas and the two extra furlongs will not be an issue for the horse. He's in good form and has handled his preparation very well. I believe that he is going to run a big race on Friday.”

The other Group 3 is the Al Shindagha Sprint over six furlongs, in which Doug Watson's Al Tariq will defend his title. He has a kilo penalty for his G3 Dubawi Stakes win last time out, in which Freedom Fighter and Canvassed were behind him.

Canvassed, winner of the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal over course and distance last March, will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, who said: “he was a bit rusty last time and just got very tired. Doug Watson and the team have done a great job with him and Sam Hitchcott breezed him the other day and he did a nice piece of work, so hopefully he will have come on for that run.”

The Listed Curlin Stakes [Presented by Race of Ambition], run over the same 2000metres as the G1 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup, will see Group 1 winner Salute The Soldier make his second start of the year. Trained by Fawzi Nass, the 7-year-old won G1 Maktoum Challenge R3 last season and was fifth in Round 1 last month.

“He's in good shape. He's had his first run now, over a mile, because we thought he would be gassy and fresh and needing the run,” said the Bahraini handler. “Hopefully that race has brought him on and he's ready to rock and roll this week in the Curlin Stakes.”

The formidable line-up includes Dubai Icon, an 8 1/2-length winner last time out when the re-opposing G2 UAE Derby winner Rebel's Romance was among his victims.

The card also stages a new race, the Listed Business Bay Challenge over seven furlongs on turf. It sees the return of three-time course winner D'Bai, who won the Group 2 Zabeel Mile here last season.

The evening's action gets underway with the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah, for Purebred Arabians, in which RB Money To Burn defends her title, but faces stiff opposition from Namrood, a near nine-length winner here 11 days ago.

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Eagles By Day Joins Glenview Stud Roster

Eagles By Day (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Missunited {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), winner of the G3 John Smiths Silver Cup at York in 2020, has been acquired by Rathbarry & Glenview Studs from Clipper Logistics. The deal was brokered by Joe Foley. The 5-year-old will join the existing national hunt roster of Blue Bresil (Fr) (Smadoun {Fr}), Malinas (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}, Shirocco (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Youmzain (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) at Glenview Stud for 2022.

Last seen finishing runner-up in the G3 Cumberland Lodge S. at Ascot in early October for trainer David O'Meara, Eagles By Day is a son of Sea The Stars, whose sons Affinisea and Crystal Ocean have been well received by national hunt breeders and foal buyers alike.

Eagles By Day's dam Missunited was a talented runner in her own right, winning 12 races under both codes, including the G3 Lillie Langtry S. and the valuable Guiness Galway Handicap Hurdle. Missunited earned black-type on no fewer than six occasions, including a narrow loss in the G1 Ascot Gold Cup and a third in the G1 Prix Royal Oak.

“Eagles By Day is an outstanding individual with plenty of size and substance,” said Paul Cashman of Rathbarry & Glenview Studs. “I'm confident he will prove a great attraction for Irish breeders.”

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‘Horse Of A Lifetime’: 8-Year-Old Lord Glitters Delivers Fairytale Performance In Bahrain International

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.”

Final Finishing Positions:

1. Lord Glitters

2. Barney Roy

3. Magny Cours

4. Fev Rover

5. Cadillac

6. Penja

7. Pogo

8. Dubai Future

9. Zakouski

10. Emperor Of The Sun

11. Victory Chime

12. Naamoos

13. What A Welcome

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