Glorious Journey claims G2 Hungerford Stakes in Newbury

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 on Saturday.

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 on Oct. 6 would be perfect for him, with a bit of ease in the ground.”

Earlier, Glorious Journey narrowly missed out on a third G3 success when going down by a neck to Limato in the seven-furlong Criterion Stakes at Newmarket on June 29.

The four-year-old was half a stride slow leaving the stalls under James Doyle but soon recovered to dispute third in a group of five that raced towards the far side, with the three other runners electing to come up the centre of the course.

Glorious Journey ran on down the far rail to hold every chance approaching the final furlong and rallied to strongly press Limato in the closing stages, with the dual G1 winner just holding on to prevail in 1m 24.51s on ground described as good to firm, good in places.

Meanwhile, Magic Millions-winning filly Exhilarates has set the early standard for new-season three-year-olds in Australia with a devastating victory in the G3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

One of the best of Godolphin’s vintage crop of juveniles of 2018-19, Exhilarates overwhelmed her opposition with a performance that suggested a stellar spring could be ahead.

And her win was matched by that of stablemate Bivouac who returned from his winter spell with a dominant win in the G3 Vain Stakes.

Exhilarates had placed herself among the top bracket of two-year-olds last season, winning one of the country’s top-three juvenile races, the A$2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

She was spelled after failing on a bottomless tack in the G1 Golden Slipper, but showed today she had come back in sparkling form.

“She was outstanding today, we couldn’t have ordered a better return to racing,” said Godolphin Melbourne foreman Sean Keogh.

“That was the performance of a high-class filly.”

Winning rider Kerrin McEvoy described the win as “exactly what you would want to see.”

“The race was run at a good tempo that gave her every chance to show what she’s got,” McEvoy said.

“You always want to see them come back at three, and she’s done that in style.”

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy gave Exhilarates time to settle in the 1,100m event, calling on her passing the 400m.

The pair quickly closed on the leaders, putting away a strong field, seemingly with ease.

“She a very classy filly. I won the Magic Millions on her and she has come on since then,” McEvoy said.

“That was a dominant win, a very good effort.”

Bivouac had an easier task in the colts and geldings’ division, cruising behind the leaders until well into the straight and then letting down with a paralysing burst at the 200m that carried him to 4-1/4 length win.

“He’s a classy colt who has run right up to his two-year-old form,” Keogh said.

The win also impressed rider Hugh Bowman who rated the colt a “way above average three-year-old”.