Portrait worth a Glance as Australian Trip beckons
Having completed two weeks in quarantine the Andrew Balding-trained seven-year-old is heading down under with his faithful companion Leanne Masterton, the reigning groom of the year. On arrival Side Glance returns to quarantine at Weribee Racecourse, but will continue to work towards a possible run in the Gr.1 Caulfield Stakes, an Aus$400,000 race on October 11.
The Gr.1 Cox Plate on October 25 or Gr.1 Mackinnon Stakes - which he won last year - on November 1 are two further options.
The painting of Side Glance (pictured) is nearing completion at the studio of artist Charles Church - it will hang at the Newmarket office of Qatar Racing and Pearl Bloodstock, alongside one of another superb globetrotter, the great Dunaden, who was recently retired from racing and takes up stud duties at Simon Sweeting's Overbury Stud next year.
No one knows Side Glance better than Masterton, and when asked for her appraisal of the work she said: "It's a very good likeness - he's really captured the look on his face."
Devoted - Leanne Masterton and Side Glance
Today's flight should be a routine event for Masterton and her horse, who, since their Australian trip 12 months ago, have been to Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore and North America, in addition to a trip to Royal Ascot in June.
Masterton said: "He will lose 20 kilos on the flight, but it's amazing how he holds his fitness. Once he's fit he keeps that way. His ears are always pricked and he can be a little bit gassy - if he was a human he would be a gangster. He's naughty, but not in a bad way, but he just gets into everything.
"He's done wonders for me, taking me around the world and meeting lots of people and enabling me to buy some nice things. I received the award [groom of the year] thanks to him."
Two other members of the Qatar Racing team tackle Stakes races today, with recent purchaseCornwallville joining a field of nine for the Listed Criterium De Lyon (13.05), at Lyon Parilly in France, andPallasator bidding for the Listed Jockey Club Rosebowl Stakes (16.15) at Newmarket.
Pallasator's journey from Sir Mark Prescott's Heath House Stables to the Rowley Mile is approximately the same distance as the race, a two-mile contest which has attracted five runners. It will be the horse's first attempt at the trip and it comes after a disappointing display in the Gr.1 Irish St Leger. That was Andrea Atzeni's first ride on the horse, who became fractious going to post, but a better effort is expected today.