SPARKLING SUCCESS FOR GUTSY GLITTERS

POPULAR globetrotting grey Lord Glitters took his career earnings past £2million by winning the Bahrain International Trophy.

David O’Meara’s stable stalwart stormed home to secure the first prize of £262,500 at huge odds of 40-1.

The performance handsomely bettered his fifth place from 12 months ago and also represented a major career win for jockey Jason Watson in the Group Three at Sakhir racecourse.

He was called up for the ride after Danny Tudhope, on board for all but one of the horse’s last 15 runs, was sidelined with a neck injury.

Watson, who split from trainer Roger Charlton earlier this year, steered Lord Glitters to his third triumph of the year overseas.

At the start of 2021, the eight-year-old veteran of 42 races took the Group One

Jebel Hatta and Group Two Singspiel Stakes at Meydan.

“I came out here with a lot of nerves and I wouldn’t call myself a nervous jockey,” Watson said.

“He’s so important to the yard and to connections so it’s an honour, really. “David said to me to get him relaxed and he was from the word go. I couldn’t have asked him to do any more.” Lord Glitters, left, finished last of 10 in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on his previous start on British Champions Day – and O’Meara was thrilled to see the spark return. He said: “He’s not getting any younger, he’s rising nine.

“To come out here and give a penalty away to all these is great. “We came out here and finished fifth last year and felt we had some unfinished business. “Winning any big race is brilliant. It’s such a thrill.”

The oldest runner in the field showed his old turn of foot to collar Godolphin pair Barney Roy and Magny Cours.