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Glorious Journey proves great in G2 Hungerford Stakes

Racenews

Glorious Journey gained the biggest success of his career so far with a battling victory in the G2 Hungerford Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury, UK, on Saturday, 17 August.

The Charlie Appleby-trained son of Dubawi, twice successful at G3 level in France, broke well under James Doyle and disputed third early on as Donjuan Triumphant led the seven runners.

Glorious Journey travelled strongly and took up the running on the bridle just inside the final quarter-mile but was pressed by Librisa Breeze soon afterwards.

The duo went clear approaching the furlong-pole, with four-year-old Glorious Journey asserting in the closing stages to score by half a length in 1m 27.3s on soft ground.

James Doyle said: “I am proud of Glorious Journey. He was very promising as a two-year-old and then we lost him a little bit, but dropping him back in trip has certainly been the making of him. That was Charlie’s idea and what a shout it was – this horse has loads of gears.

“Donjuan Triumphant couldn’t take me far enough and I was left in front just inside the two-furlong marker. I was quite nervous whether Glorious Journey would have the tenacity to keep going but thankfully he did. He really knuckled down when Librisa Breeze joined me and went again, which I thought was a sure sign of him growing up.

“All the guys have done a great job and I thought that was a pretty smart performance in ideal conditions. He has run some super races this year on ground that has been too quick for him, so we were joking beforehand that he might move nicely to the start, which was exactly the case.

“He really enjoyed today’s conditions and there is lots more to look forward to with him. I guess a race like the G1 Prix de la Foret (7f, Longchamp, Sunday, 6 October) would be perfect for him, with a bit of ease in the ground.”