GLORY AT RACING'S OLYMPICS
   Sent off the 6-5 favorite for yesterday's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on the back of wins in the G2 Superlative S. at Newmarket July 14 and Aug. 1 G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood, Olympic Glory (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) brought an instant dividend to Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani's recent investment by battling to success in Longchamp's heavy conditions. Settled in mid-division early by Richard Hughes, the bay got first run on his chief market rival What a Name (Ire) (Mr. Greeley), and after cutting down the eventual third Indian Jade (GB) (Sleeping Indian {GB}) with 100 meters remaining, comfortably held the filly by 1 1/4 lengths. "He is a top horse," Hughes commented. "I was worried about the ground, and I always had to be after him a bit, but he picked up very nicely."

Sunday, Longchamp, France
PRIX JEAN-LUC LAGARDERE (GRAND CRITERIUM) - SPONSORED BY AL EMADI ENTERPRISES-G1, €350,000, Longchamp, 10-7, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:25.73, hy.
1--OLYMPIC GLORY (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Choisir (Aus)
        1st Dam: Acidanthera (GB), by Alzao
        2nd Dam: Amaranthus (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
        3rd Dam: Amaranda, by Bold Lad (Ire)
(£65,000 yrl '11 DONAUG). O-Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani; B-Denis McDonnell; T-Richard Hannon; J-Richard Hughes; €199,990. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 5 starts, 4 wins, 1 place, €307,211. Werk Nick Rating:Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--What a Name (Ire), 122, f, 2, Mr. Greeley--Bonnie Byerly, by Dayjur. (€37,000 RNA yrl '11 GOFSPT; $350,000 2yo '12 KEEAPR). O-Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani; B-Robert B Trussell Jr; T-Mikel Delzangles; €80,010.


3--Indian Jade (GB), 126, c, 2, Sleeping Indian (GB)--Flora Burn (UAE), by Jade Robbery. (£13,000 yrl '11 DONAUG). O-Michael Beaumont; B-Hillwood Thoroughbred Breeding Ltd; T-Kevin Ryan; €40,005.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 5. Odds: 1.20, 3.10, 45.00.
Also Ran: Snowday (Fr), Pedro the Great, Maxentius (Ire), Avantage (Fr), Tha'ir (Ire). Scratched: George Vancouver.
Click for the Racing Post chart, the AmWest PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for Equidia video.
   Olympic Glory made an impressive debut when scoring over six furlongs at Goodwood June 8 and stepped up markedly despite lacking vital experience when sent to Royal Ascot to contest the G2 Coventry S. Belying that disadvantage, he drew on his reserves of class to chase home J "TDN Rising Star" J Dawn Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), and the subsequent exploits of that Bolger trainee shed even more favorable light on his performance when suffering just a 3/4-of-a-length defeat in that June 19 contest. Overcoming extremely testing ground and a late setback to win the G2 Superlative S. over this trip at Newmarket July 14, he defied a resulting three-pound penalty to swoop late and add Goodwood's G2 Vintage S. to his tally on good ground at the beginning of August. Bought privately by Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani from Julie Wood in the interim, he was shown maximum respect by the Parisians and visiting Brits and Irish, and was heavily favored over the domestic hope What a Name. Sticking within striking distance of the leaders throughout the first part of the race, Olympic Glory was niggled at to keep his rhythm on the cloggy surface, and when the gap appeared inside the final quarter he had dead aim on Indian Jade. Without being asked a serious question, he duly picked up that rival passing the first winning post as What a Name was launched with an ambitious run from rear by Christophe Lemaire. Although she tried hard, she was unable to get on terms with the colt, who was hand ridden in the final yards to win with something in hand. Trainer Richard Hannon's son Richard Jr. was not ruling out another outing for the winner this year. "This is a top-class 2-year-old who had the form to win, as he has only been beaten by Dawn Approach, but we were slightly worried about the condition of the ground," he said. "He had won on it this year already, but he's a heavy horse. He traveled well and kicked very nicely, and this is a well-deserved Group 1. He might run again this season, possibly in the Breeders' Cup, but we will discuss it with Nicolas de Watrigant, who handled the deal when he was sold and all the racing and breeding interests of Sheikh Joaan. Next year, he will certainly be a Guineas horse, and whether that is in Newmarket or Paris, we'll see."