3 minute read
Frankie Dettori produced Olympic Glory with a perfectly timed challenge to land the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.
The popular Italian was seemingly keen to bide his time aboard the Richard Hannon-trained 5-1 shot and he was still last of all rounding the home turn.
Irish challengers Gordon Lord Byron and Ansgar were in the mix heading inside the last of seven furlongs, but neither had an answer as Olympic Glory produced a devastating burst, weaving his way through to seal an ultimately emphatic victory.
Tom Hogan's stable star Gordon Lord Byron, winner of the race in 2012 and second last year, was typically tough in finishing second again, with one-time Classic hope Noozhoh Canarias running his best race for a while in third.
Hannon said "That was one of the strangest races I can remember seeing. I must admit I thought the writing was on the wall a long way out.
"Frankie said before the race he would do what he wanted and that he just needed a bit of luck. But I was very worried a furlong and a half out, I have to say.
"He has been a smashing horse from day one and will now go to the Sheikh's (Joaan Al Thani) stud. It has been a pleasure to train him."
Dettori added: "Olympic Glory is a great horse, but unfortunately he has been competing in small fields when what he wants is a hard-run race, with more runners, like today.
"I had to weave my way through horses, but the race was run to suit him. I took a chance and it worked out."
Suggesting Olympic Glory could have one more run, Dettori added: "Hopefully he will now back up in the QEII."
Hogan said of Gordon Lord Byron: "It was a very good time and he's run a great race, the other horse just went by him. He was beaten by the better horse today. We might go on to Hong Kong, but we'll hope to be back here next year, too."