Frankie Dettori has brought Olympic Glory with a well timed run to beat Gordon Lord Byron in the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.
Dettori bided his time aboard the Richard Hannon-trained 5-1 shot and he was still last rounding the home turn.
Irish challengers Gordon Lord Byron and Ansgar were in the mix heading inside the last 200 metres but neither had any answer as Olympic Glory produced a devastating burst, weaving his way through to seal an ultimately emphatic victory.
Tom Hogan’s stable star Gordon Lord Byron, a Group One winner in Australia during the autumn and winner of the French race in 2012, was typically tough in finishing second.
“Frankie said before the race he would do what he wanted and that he just needed a bit of luck. But I was very worried a furlong and a half out, I have to say,” Hannon said.
“He has been a smashing horse from day one and will now go to the Sheikh’s (Joaan Al Thani) stud.
“It was been a pleasure to train him.”
Hogan said the much travelled Gordon Lord Byron could go to Ascot for the Champions meeting before a possible trip to the International meeting in Hong Kong in December.
“It was a very good time and he’s run a great race,” Hogan said.
“He was beaten by the better horse today. We might go on to Hong Kong, but we’ll hope to be back here next year, too.”
