The major racing focus of this weekend has been the Dubai World Cup meeting, but while the established stars were strutting their stuff at Meydan, Glorious Days will be representing the next generation in the Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin this afternoon.
The John Size-trained four-year-old looks the best of his age group but Size bypassed the Derby route to concentrate Glorious Days (Douglas Whyte) on races that were more within his distance range.
After wins at his first four starts here, Glorious Days was thrown into Group One level against Lucky Nine in the 1,400m Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup last time out and came away second best but lost few admirers.
The son of Hussonet loomed as the winner at the 200m before finding the more experienced Group One performer Lucky Nine too tough in the dog fight, however, Glorious Days comfortably disposed of the remainder of the field. Five of the vanquished oppose him again and will need something remarkable to happen if they are to reverse that form.
That rugged experience will have brought Glorious Days along further mentally and the step to 1,600m looks like one that will suit, judging by the way he has travelled at 1,400m in his past two runs.
Each time, Glorious Days has been pushed along through the running before finding the line, and perhaps over the extra distance he will travel more comfortably, even though the barrier draw has done him no favours again.
The presence of Leading City may be the saving grave and see them run along at a good tempo and Whyte will be hoping the field spreads out and he can slot in two wide and off the speed.
