3 minute read
Richard Fahey hopes his exciting juvenile can prove he’s a horse right out of the top drawer when tackling the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury on Saturday.
Following what Fahey reported to be some impressive homework, Powerful Glory was sent off a well-fancied 10/11 favourite to make a winning debut at Pontefract.
With none of his rivals able to match his early speed, Oisin Orr sent Powerful Glory to the head of affairs and with a breathtaking turn of foot approaching the two-pole, the son of Cotai Glory quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals, strolling clear for an emphatic five-and-ahalf-length debut success.
Powerful Glory will now be pitched straight into group company, as he bids to make it two from two against nine declared rivals at Newbury on Saturday.
"He's a horse we've always held in very high regard, his work has always been very easy," Fahey told Sky Sports Racing.
"The idea on the first day was to take a lead and try to educate him, after about six or seven strides he found himself in front, but he wasn't doing too much, he got himself in a good rhythm and then quickened up
"When he hit the line that was his best part of the race. When you've got a nice horse, you want to see them go and do it and I was very very impressed with him that day – the manner he did it, the way he galloped out if that makes sense.
"He's a big, scopey horse, physically he has done very well since Pontefract, and we haven't rushed him. His work has been very good. You know you've got a good one when his work companions are all older horses now, you know you are dealing with something special.
"Fingers crossed he can show he's something special and how good he is."
The Malton-based handler certainly knows what it takes to land the Group 2 prize, having saddled both Supplicant and Ribchester to Mill Reef success, with the latter going on to prove himself a top-class miler,winning the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois as a three-year-old before an excellent four-year-old campaign that included victories in the Lockinge, Queen Anne and Prix du Moulin.
On the prospect of his latest potential star scaling those heights, Fahey added: "He'd be a bit more straightforward than Ribchester; he could be a bit keen, but this lad does everything right, I'm hoping he could be special."
