Lord Glitters Set to Contest Lockinge Stakes

David O'Meara, who will send a strong team to York before unleashing stable star Lord Glitters in the May 18 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1), could not be going into the huge week in better shape.

The trainer claimed top honors at Chester last week with three victories and has hit the ground running this year, particularly in the juvenile department where he has gained six of his 32 winners.

Starting out in his fourth season at his purpose-built Willow Farm on the outskirts of York, the multiple group 1-winning trainer has implemented a change in policy, with the focus very much on youth.

"We've gone through a transitional phase with huge investment in facilities and people since we moved to the new yard," O'Meara said. "We've had most of our success with older horses and not been renowned for our record with 2-year-olds, but my assistant Jason Kelly has been sourcing yearlings and 2-year-olds, and we've got the facilities to accommodate them better now."

Chester winners Great Dame and Full Authority are among the juveniles with Royal Ascot ambitions, a meeting that also features highly on the agenda for last year's Queen Anne Stakes (G1) runner-up, Lord Glitters.

The ultra-consistent gray, who is a general 8-1 shot for the Lockinge, heads to Newbury at the peak of his powers after an excellent third behind Almond Eye in the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1). 

"He ran a really good race at Meydan and looks very well at home," O'Meara said about the 6-year-old son of Whipper. "He's getting a bit more versatile as he gets older. He's relaxing better in his races and goes on any ground.

"He has a good chance in the Lockinge. We think he's capable of competing in the group 1s, and hopefully he can win one."

O'Meara believes the stable is well placed to build on last year's achievements when enjoying a best prize-money haul and surpassing the century mark for the sixth successive campaign.

"We've had a great start to the season and the 2-year-olds are flying, but we feel we've been doing well at the new yard for a while now," he said. "We've finished 11th in the trainers' list for three years in a row and last July had our most winners in a month when sending out a total of 31 winners in Britain and Ireland."