Lord Glitters Takes Down Queen Anne

ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – Second in this race last year, Geoff and Sandra Turnbull’s Lord Glitters found an opening between foes in deep stretch and surged through late, then held off challenges from Beat The Bank and One Master to win Tuesday’s $768,000 Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at the Royal Ascot meet.

The Queen Anne is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Lord Glitters receiving an automatic berth in the Mile at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, November 2.

Breaking a tiny bit awkwardly under Daniel Tudhope at 15/1 stateside odds, Lord Glitters lingered at the rear for much of the early running while Mythical Magic set the opening pace. With 2 furlongs remaining, Tudhope gave the signal and Lord Gitters responded sharply.

Finding room between Hazapour and a weakening Mythical Magic, the gray Lord Glitters soon found himself fighting for the lead. Sandwiched between Beat The Bank to his right and One Master to his left, the David O’Meara trainee crossed with a neck advantage to win the mile-long event. His winning time of 1:37.40 was only 1.1 seconds off of the course record that Ribchester set in 2017.

“Lord Glitters always run well here as he loves the track,” O’Meara said of his pupil whose record over the local course now stands at 6-2-3-0. “He is not that easy a horse; he can be quite strong and keen. Today, as soon as he jumped, Danny got him across and got cover. From there on, it all looked like it went pretty well.”

The rest of the field came across the wire thusly: Romanised, Le Brivido (the 7/2 stateside favorite), Laurens, Mustashry, Barney Roy, Sharja Bridge, Matterhorn, Stormy Antarctic, Hazapour, Mythical Magic, Dream Castle, Olmedo, and Accidental Agent.

Oddly enough, Accidental Agent, last year’s winner of this race, refused to budge when the gates opened, despite jockey Charles Bishop’s attempts to engage him. The stewards deemed him to be a runner, but depending on the wagering platform, bettors may or may not have received a refund on the 15/1 stateside shot.

Lord Glitters’ win was his first at the topmost level of racing and improved his overall record to 22-7-8-2 with $1,860,909 earned. The 6-year-old gelded son of Whipper has made one previous trip to North America, having finished sixth in the Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1) last September in a failed bid to earn a spot in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“David O’Meara has had a lot of faith in me,” Tudhope said. “I’ve been there a good few years and we’ve had some big winners. He’s stood by me through thick and thin. I’m delighted for the owners, Geoff and Sandra Turnbull, they are here today and they are great supporters. I’m over the moon for them and they can enjoy this day.”

Lord Glitters returned $23.40 to win and $6 to place, Beat The Bank brought back $16.40 to place, and One Master paid $18.20 to place.