Powerful Glory delivered a stunning performance to clinch Group Two victory in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.
Trained by Richard Fahey, the juvenile had made a strong impression on debut, winning by five and a half lengths at Pontefract last month. He went off as a 5-2 shot, behind the 15-8 favourite Brian, in a reduced field that saw leading contenders Defence Minister and Shadow Of Light ruled out due to the heavy ground.
As the race unfolded, it seemed Brian might justify his favourite status after taking the lead from the pace-setting Sarab Star on the far side. However, Oisin Orr was just getting started on Powerful Glory on the stands side. The Cotai Glory colt responded beautifully to Orr’s urging, taking the lead with outsider La Bellota challenging him right to the line, ultimately winning by a neck. Billboard Star finished strongly to claim third, overtaking Brian.
Owned by Sheikh Rashid Dalmook al Maktoum, Powerful Glory’s connections were initially uncertain about running in such testing conditions after his earlier victory on quick ground at Pontefract. His representative, Philip Robinson, explained, "We considered not running, but since it was his last outing of the season, we decided to take a chance."
He added, "The jockey mentioned that he wasn’t enjoying the ground halfway through, but his class ultimately saw him through. It’s encouraging to know he can handle both firm and heavy conditions."
Fahey, who was at Ayr during the race, shared his thoughts with ITV Racing: "I’m thrilled to see him win; I really like this horse. I was concerned about the ground because he moved so well. I spoke with Sheikh Rashid, and he encouraged me to go for it, which was a relief since I might have hesitated on my own."
He confirmed that Powerful Glory would now have a break, saying, "I mentioned that if he ran, that would be it for the season. He’s quite a scopey horse, and I’d love to give him some time off now. We believe he’s something special, and we’ll treat him accordingly."