Glory Seeking

GLORY SEEKING 
With three failures from four starts at Longchamp, the record of Olympic Glory (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) around this circuit does not inspire confidence, but Al Shaqab Racing’s 4-year-old reverts to the seven-furlong trip over which he was successful two years ago in today’s G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret. Below-par on all three visits since winning the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on this card in 2012, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and G1 Lockinge S. winner proved it is not a fear of France in general that ails him by running second and third in the last two renewals of the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois on Deauville’s straight track. Freshened up since the latest of those efforts behind Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in that Aug. 17 contest, connections feel that this speedier trip may be the key to rekindling his spark. “Olympic Glory gets a mile well, but, ironically, he has never been beaten in four races over this seven furlongs and we have had this race in mind since he finished third to Kingman in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “He has had a nice break since and Frankie is pleased with the feel he is getting on the gallops, so we have to be hopeful. Any rain would be a plus, but the ground was fast enough when he won the Lockinge, and, in any event, Longchamp is usually well watered.” 

One place ahead of him in the Marois was the Wertheimers’ Anodin (Ire) (Anabaa), a full-brother to this race’s 2010 heroine Goldikova (Ire) who is finally finding his feet at four. Also second in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan over an extended nine-furlong trip here May 25 and third in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot June 17, the homebred is not far from top-class and could still be progressing. “Anodin has improved a lot this year and is very consistent, so he should take all the beating,” trainer Freddy Head commented. “I thought he wasn’t trying earlier in his career, but I was wrong and I didn’t do my best with him last year. He was backward like all the family–Goldikova got better at four and he’s the same. He’s only just coming to himself now. After this, it will be Santa Anita for the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile–that’s his race.” 

The Niarchos Family are double-handed with the Sept. 13 G1 Matron S. winner Fiesolana (Ire) (Aussie Rules) and the May 11 G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein). The latter is returning from a break, having finished eighth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club over 10 1/2 furlongs at Chantilly at the start of June. “He won the Poulains easily and the distance of the Jockey Club was too long,” rider Stephane Pasquier commented. “We’ll see how he comes back, but he has speed enough for seven furlongs and is an easy horse to ride. He prefers this good ground.”