Global Glamour set for return

Plans for Global Glamour’s return to racing will be firmed up now the the Group One-winning mare has made the shortlist for the Australian Turf Club’s slot for The Everest.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained four-year-old is among five candidates vying for a start in October’s inaugural $10 million Everest (1200m) when the ATC trimmed down a list of 20 hopefuls on Tuesday.

Waterhouse and Bott already have gun mare English confirmed for the Tabcorp slot and are now hoping for a second runner in the 12-strong field.

Darren Weir (Brave Smash), Kris Lees (Clearly Innocent/Le Romain) plus Peter and Paul Snowden (Redzel) are the other contenders.

Global Glamour, who won the Group One Flight Stakes and Thousand Guineas a week part last October, has not raced since placing second to Derryn in the Group Two Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on April 8.

“It’s great news for all the connections involved. James Bester (managing owner) has campaigned strongly to the ATC and put forward his case. I think she thoroughly deserves a spot,” Bott said.

He said Global Glamour was probably a fortnight from returning to barrier trials and would probably have two trials and one as yet unspecified race to audition for a start in the highlight of the Sydney spring carnival on October 14.

“We’re still finalising a program for her, we will produce her in top order so she can showcase herself,” Bott said.

Redzel returned from a spell in style when finishing runner-up to Spieth in the Group Three Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick last Saturday.

Brave Smash made an eye-catching Australian debut at Caulfield the same afternoon when placing second to Everest contender Vega Magic in the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m).

Le Romain, the Group One Canterbury Stakes winner in March, has raced twice after a spell and finished fifth in the Memsie Stakes last Saturday.

Stablemate Clearly Innocent has not raced since a third in the Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) in June but did trial in Gosford last month.

Bott did not believe Global Glamour’s chances would be hampered by only having one opportunity to justify selection.

“As long as she’s in good condition racing fresh over the sprinting trips, it wouldn’t necessarily be a disadvantage.”

Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Darren Pearce said horses that did not make the cut, and the four unsuccessful candidates on the shortlist, had the Group Two Premiere Stakes and The Everest Consolation to consider as back-up options.