Euro runner Lord Glitters takes proven path to Woodbine Mile

Pursuing a route that has proven successful in the past for the Irish jockey-turned-trainer David O’Meara, European invader Lord Glitters is jet-setting across the Atlantic Ocean with the hopes of following in the hoofsteps of 2015 Woodbine Mile winner Mondialiste.

Like O’Meara’s past contender Mondialiste, the stunning grey Lord Glitters will fly into Woodbine’s signature one-mile turf stakes following his first Group stakes win in the Sky Bet & Symphony Group Strensall over 1 1/16 miles of turf at York. 

“He did it well,” said O’Meara. “He'd been running pretty well all year – ran well at Royal Ascot in the Queen Anne, ran well at Ascot again on the round track in the Summer Mile, and again at Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes – he was unlucky not to be closer that day; he got into a bit of trouble in running. He’s been in good form all year.”

Mondialiste had also entered his initial Woodbine Mile start off a winning performance in the Strensall and went on to finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile behind Tepin, then won the Arlington Million the following year. He turned in a fourth-place finish behind World Approval in his attempt at a Woodbine Mile double last year and now stands at ownersGeoff and Sandra Turnbull’s Elwick Stud in the North of England.

“It's a road we've taken before and I was looking for somewhere to run him between now and Ascot on Champions Day and this race fits well,” said O’Meara of his decision to send Lord Glitters to the $800,000 Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile, a Breeder’s Cup ‘Win And You’re In’ event. “It was either here or take him to Ireland, and the money in Canada is better.”

The 5-year-old Whipper-Lady Glitters gelding has been a model of consistency finishing no worse than third while competing in Great Britain stakes action over the past two years. Lifetime, he sports a record reading 6-8-1 from 17 starts with more than $800,000 in purse earnings.

“Look, he's just very good,” said O’Meara. “He's a got a huge engine in him. He's well able to quicken up in his races. He's got a really, really good turn of foot."

Jamie Spencer, who won the 2014 Woodbine Mile in rein to Trade Storm, will pick up the mount. He was aboard the French-bred gelding for his close runner-up efforts at Ascot this year in the aforementioned Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and Group 2 Summer Mile.