Olympic Glory (grey silks, white blaze) wins under Richard Hughes
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Paris sees more Olympic Glory for British
Report: Longchamp, Sunday
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1) 7f, 2yo colts and fillies
ON his first start since being purchased by Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Richard Hannon-trained Olympic Glory landed his first Group 1, pulling clear close home to win the Jean-Luc Lagardere under Richard Hughes.
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Beaten only once this season, by superstar two-year-old Dawn Approach - who runs in the Dewhurst next Saturday - in the Coventry at Royal Ascot, Olympic Glory has been cut to 16-1 (from 20) by Paddy Power and Ladbrokes after adding to his two Group 2 wins, though he is a general 12-1 shot to win next year's Qipco 2,000 Guineas.
Connections offered a word of warning with regards to the Guineas, while also describing a trip to America for the Breeders' Cup as unlikely. Richard Hannon jnr said: "We are lucky, we have a few colts that could be Guineas standard, so it'd be nice to spread them around and with track experience an advantage, we could take Olympic Glory to the French Guineas."
Settled in fourth off the strong pace set by Olivier Peslier on Snowday, Hughes tracked the leaders into the straight before laying down his challenge on the outside of the Kevin Ryan-trained Indian Jade, who held on for third.
Olympic Glory, who was nudged along early, failed to pick up immediately, with the filly What A Name, who came from behind, drawing to within half a length as the field passed the first of the Longchamp finish lines.
However the further they went the stronger Olympic Glory looked, pulling clear close home to win by a comfortable length and a quarter. Hannon added: "It was a good performance in deep ground, to quicken past them on ground like that was hard work and he did it well."
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