Second time lucky for Global Glamour
GLOBAL Glamour is set for Magic Millions redemption when she runs in the $1 million Fillies and Mares (1300m) tomorrow, with connections declaring her the best she’s ever been.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained mare is one of three Group 1 winners running at the Gold Coast tomorrow.
The Gold Coast-owned Lucky Hussler is aiming for a second win in the Magic Millions Cup, having won it two years ago, and Viddora will run a short-priced favourite in the final event, the Magic Millions Snippets.
Global Glamour ran second to Flying Jess in last year’s Magic Millions 3YO Guineas when a setback in her preparation was blamed for defeat.
She will have one of the biggest support teams on course tomorrow, with her ownership made up of 40 women in a syndicate put together by smoothtalking bloodstock agent James Bester, who picked her out at the sales three years ago.
“Most of them are wives and associates of leading breeders and it’s a long time since their husbands have won a Group 1 race, so the ladies love lauding it over them,” Bester said.
“The Mitchell girls love saying to (their husbands) Harry and Arthur (of Yarraman Park, which yesterday sold an I Am Invincible colt for $2 million) when did you last win a Group 1 race?”
Bester said there would be no excuses if Global Glamour was beaten tomorrow.
“Last year she came up a trial or a run short. She had a problem on the walker of all things,” he said. “She put Winning Rupert away and she got ambushed. She didn’t have a chance to fight back and wide out Flying Jess just got her right on the line.
“This year, there’s no excuses. Her demeanour is much better than it’s ever been before. She’s a more relaxed filly and her last trial was spectacular.”
Bester said Global Glamour, who failed in the Myer Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in November, would be kept to sprint trips no longer than 1400m for the rest of her career.
“Indeed it was in the back of our heads to train her as a sprinter ever since the end of last autumn,” he said.
“We were aiming her at The Everest and she had a little setback and didn’t get there.”
Victorian trainer Darren Weir feels Lucky Hussler, who arrived on the Coast yesterday, faces a difficult task to win another Magic Millions Cup with 61kg and barrier 15.
“I don’t think he picks and chooses (when he does his best), it’s just a matter of finding the right races these days,” Weir said.
“He’s always up in the weights and he’s a bit older now.”