Olympic Glory powers to QE2 victory for Hannon and Hughes

Olympic Glory spreadeagles his rivals in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Olympic Glory, who had run lazily on his last start at Longchamp last month when five lengths second to Maxios, was on top form this afternoon in the £1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Europe’s richest mile race.

Always travelling well, he burst between runners under Richard Hughes to take it up with a furlong to run and powered clear for an easy three and a quarter length success from Top Notch Tonto, for whom connections paid £70,000 to supplement him on Monday (he won £227,000 as the runner-up) with Kingsbarns, who won last year’s Racing Post Trophy, three-quarters of a length back in third.

The hot favourite, Dawn Approach, clearly did not appreciate the ground, finishing fourth on the last start of his career.

Elusive Kate, last year’s third, was fifth this time with Maxios a disappointing eighth and Soft Falling Rain, who hated the ground, second-last.

It takes Richard Hughes 15 points clear in the Jockey of the Series table from Johnny Murtagh, who does not have a ride in the QIPCO Champion Stakes.

He and Aidan O’Brien, who has an unassailable lead in the Trainer of the Series table, will receive their trophies after the last race.