Unwanted as a yearling, Glare might not be bound for Group One glory just yet but he certainly proved his detractors wrong yet again with an all-the-way win at Doomben on Wednesday.
A four-year-old son of the all-conquering Redoute’s Choice, the super-consistent Glare took his record to four wins and seven minor placings from 13 starts when he led throughout in the Drumbeats@Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1640m).
Glare was bred by Arrowfield Stud in a foal share arrangement with a private syndicate but failed to sell when offered as a yearling so the stud retained him.
Trained by Paul Messara at the Sunshine Coast, Glare was boldly ridden by talented apprentice Luke Rolls who made the most of a rare opportunity to ride for the powerful stable.
Messara was measured in his post-race assessment of Glare but did say the gelding could easily measure up to better-class city races.
“He’s by no means a superstar but he’s as consistent as they come and he is very genuine,” Messara said.
“From memory I think he had a throat complaint as a yearling and he didn’t sell so we took him home and kept him.
“He’s only little but he’s a progressive horse who keeps putting in every time and I am confident he will progress to Saturday metropolitan grade in Brisbane.”
Glare is one of 12 horses Messara has in work at the satellite stable he opened on the Sunshine Coast last year and the son of Arrowfield Stud supremo John Messara said he planned to increase stable numbers in coming months.
“I am up there every two weeks and things are going really well so far. I am very pleased with the way we’re going,” Messara said.
“I will start to send a few more horses up in the new year – middle distance horses like Glare who probably aren’t up to Sydney standard but will be well suited up there.”
Glare ($3) beat Count Your Fingers ($3.20) by three-quarters of a length with Shocking Blue ($14) a half-length away third and $2.90 favourite Wabeel fourth.
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