It could be said that Tulloch Lodge owns the Flight Stakes. Tommy Smith won 13, Gai Waterhouse eight and now the partnership of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott has its first courtesy of Global Glamour leading all the way at Randwick on Saturday.
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It was no surprise to see the partnership open its group 1 account on the October weekend and Bott could take a lot of credit for Global Glamour, which had been her own worst enemy in the lead-up races, getting the job done.
He suggested the barrier blanket for the filly, which got the jump to the front and when Tim Clark was able to get her to settle it was always going to be hard to beat.
"We are a team and we had to get her energy level down and Adrian thought a barrier blanket would help her in the gates," Waterhouse said. "Our barrier worked hard on her and we got her to show her best on this day. I'm delighted that the team won a group 1 together and there are going to be more."
Bott could only smile broadly as he was interviewed.
"It is incredible. I don't quite know the emotions that are going through me at the moment but it is an incredible feeling," Bott said. "It is hard to describe. It is a very good feeling and one I will cherish forever. The big challenge today was to get her to relax. She has been her own worst enemy the last two starts. It wasn't a surprise to see her do that today, we've known she has always had the ability."
It was a great ride from Clark, who took bad luck out of play when he led, rating his filly to the turn and kicking clear off the rise to establish a winning break. Global Glamour held a half-length margin from favourite Yankee Rose on the line, with Sezanne finishing two lengths further away in third.
"The start was all important today. It was a masterstroke by Gai and Adrian to put the barrier blanket on her. It helped keep her calm," Clark said.
"She began pretty well and in the small field I was able to control it. Even though she was still going a bit keen within herself through the run she wasn't going that quick.
"It allowed her to have a great turn of foot. When she topped the rise she quickened really well and I thought it would take a good one to run me down. Thankfully she was strong enough late."
The genius of Clark's ride was that Blake Shinn thought he would run him down when he pulled out at the top of the straight on Yankee Rose.
"I thought I was close enough approaching the turn, I was waiting for that electrifying turn of foot that she can possess, little bit one-paced I felt today at the top of the straight, but she was great through the line," Shinn said. "Heading towards the VRC Oaks, I think her run was really encouraging. Gallant in defeat."
