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| Staff Writer |
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It’s fair to see from his reaction, that David O’Meara is more than a little pleased with Lord Glitters’ power-packed finish, landing the Gr.2 Singspiel Stakes at Meydan.
“It’s a mighty performance – an eight-year-old and still running to that level. It’s brilliant and he was given a great ride by Adrie de Vries.”
The 8YO only had two horses behind him turning into the straight, but once he hit top gear it was as all the other horses vaporised.
The gelded son of Whipper powered to victory by three lengths from Zakouski, with Dream Castle a length and a half away in third place.
The David O’Meara-trained grey was winning for the first time since the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2019 – with that Group One success coming three months after he had finished third in the Dubai Turf.
“We are very happy for him to remain in Dubai after this performance. He has three races ahead of him – a Group Two on turf on February 11, the Group One Jebel Hatta and then the Group One Dubai Turf on World Cup night.”
O’Meara, who trains at Upper Helmsey, was a successful jump jockey and a happy realtor, like his father before switching ranks to his true love – training racehorses.
The trainer is known for his adroitness and tact in racehorse transformation. This remarkable skill is clearly visible in the list of Group One winners under his care that were clearly illumined under his care to reach great heights.
Another horse expected to race at Meydan in the coming week is Escobar. The 7YO Balmoral Handicap (2019) winner is expected to attempt two to three races in Dubai before World Cup night.
“He is headed for the Zabeel Mile (L) followed by a Listed Handicap later in the season.”
O’Meara is yet to finalise travel plans for his other stable star, the Gr.1 Stewards Cup (2020) winner Summerghand who is potentially headed towards the 1351 Turf Sprint.
“The year Lord Glitter was third behind Almond Eye in the gr.1 Dubai Turf,” O’Meara says, of his favourite Dubai World Cup night. “And Waldgeist is my favourite horse. I had always felt he would do well and then he won the Arc…”
For a man who is loved and respected on virtually every continent, inspiration is a tough question but O’Meara answers with ease, “I’ve worked with top trainers like Jim Bolger, Michael Hourigan, Philip Hobbs and Peter and Tim Easterby who continue to inspire me daily.”
Upon return, O’Meara’s horses will be freshened up and prepared for the Royal Ascot, the seven-day English horse racing spectacle that is a gem of the English summer.