CHC’s Matt Houldsworth (right) welcomes Gladius and jockey William Buick back to scale after his impressive win.
Gladius looks destined for higher honours after gritting out a determined win at the esteemed Glorious Goodwood Carnival over the weekend.
The China Horse Club / Qatar Racing / David Howden owned colt elevated his record to three wins from only four appearances when taking out the Coral Gardens rewards Shakers Handicap with a display of acceleration to pull clear of his rivals and then fight to hold them at bay.
“Very impressed with Gladius today,” said trainer Andrew Balding.
“He’s had a tough trip round, struck a little wide, but travelled like a classy horse. I felt like he was finding enough, perhaps a little lonely in front, but he is definitely going in the right direction.
“The most encouraging thing is that the signs again that we can try him again at a mile and a quarter which will just give us more options.”
Balding has intentionally taken a conservative approach with the son of Night of Thunder, moving him incrementally through his grades to bolster his education and allow him to find his feet. Success at one of Britain’s most famed carnivals is testament to the value of that approach.
“[Gladius] knuckled down well on ground that’s tacky and hard work so, when the second horse came to him, I thought he found again,” champion jockey William Buick told Racing TV.
“He’s a good, straightforward horse who I think will keep improving.”