'The years have taken their toll' - dual Group 1 winner Lord Glitters retired

One of racing's most popular performers has run his last race with the news Lord Glitters has been retired following a stellar career on the global stage.

The star of David O'Meara's stable near York, Lord Glitters retires at the age of nine having attracted legions of fans for his dazzling displays in some of the biggest and most valuable races around the world.

The highlight of his career came when winning the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in 2019, with his other Group 1 success coming in last year's Jebel Hatta at Meydan.

The dashing grey, who carried the colours of the late Geoff Turnbull and his wife Sandra, also won back-to-back runnings of the Singspiel Stakes in Dubai, the Bahrain International Trophy, the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York and the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot.

Lord Glitters raced four times this year, including winning the Singspiel in February, but finished last of five in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes in May on what proved to be his final start.

"It's looking like he's had enough so we've decided to call it a day," said O'Meara. "He's nine now and years of training and racing have taken their toll, with just wear and tear really. He's had a great career, winning nearly £2.5 million in prize-money and some good races including the Queen Anne.

"Geoff was always keen to have a Royal Ascot winner, so to win a Group 1 down there for him and his family was very special."

Lord Glitters: finished fast and late to win the Bahrain International TrophyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Lord Glitters started his career in France and was bought for €270,000 at the Arqana Summer sale in 2017 by the Turnbulls as a replacement for Mondialiste after the Woodbine Mile and Arlington Million winner's retirement.

The gelded son of Whipper, who is out of Lady Glitters, quickly became known as a strong-travelling miler with a lethal turn of foot, traits he showed when winning the Balmoral under regular rider Danny Tudhope on just his second start in Britain.

Lord Glitters won 11 of his 46 starts, earning total prize-money of £2,217,186, and was a real star for successful businessman Turnbull, who died at the age of 74 in 2020.

His son Nick, who is now running the family's Elwick Stud in Durham, paid tribute to a horse who gave everyone so many happy memories.

"The fun we've had with him is unprecedented really," he said. "We travelled the world as a family with him and had a brilliant time, especially towards the end of my dad's life. He owes us nothing and we didn't want to risk him, so we've come to the decision of what is best for the horse.

"The old man loved going abroad. Once he travelled over to America with Mondialiste and had success, he got the bug and wanted to travel as much as possible.

"Every one of those experiences was a good one, starting with the first time we went to Meydan and he came third in the Dubai Turf behind Almond Eye, which was probably his best run."

Although Lord Glitters gained more valuable prizes abroad, the Queen Anne was the undoubted high point of his sensational career.

"Dad always wanted a Royal Ascot winner and it was huge for him – he couldn't talk when they came to interview him he was so overwhelmed," Turnbull said.

"The Balmoral was also a big one for us. We'd just bought him and you're always thinking are we going to recoup any of this and he went and won."

Lord Glitters takes a cooling swim while out in DubaiCredit: Edward Whitaker

Turnbull is looking forward to giving a horse whose popularity stretches far and wide the happiest of retirements at home.

"He never let us down and always put it in – when you've got a horse that does that you have a special bond with them," he said.

"Horses that stay around a long time and keep doing it are always going to pick up the fans but he's also so striking, being almost white now, and when he went out to Dubai they loved him as he looks like an Arabian horse.

"He'll wind down at David's for a couple of weeks and then live his days out at the stud eating grass. It's just a pity we can't breed from him as he would have been some stallion."

Lord Glitters career details and stats

Read more on Lord Glitters:

Lord Glitters: the 'phenomenal' horse who likes to get into a bit of trouble

'The sun brings another lease of life' – Lord Glitters in his element in Dubai

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