pinhooked by Stauffenberg Bloodstock and sold at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales
It may have only been a maiden on a Monday afternoon at Kempton, but there was no denying the visual impact of the debut win of GLADIUS. The 3yo colt by NIGHT OF THUNDER, owned in partnership by Qatar Racing, China Horse Club & David Howden, produced an eye-popping closing burst inside the final furlong that carried him from some five lengths adrift of race favourite Dixieland Blues to a widening length win.
Trainer Andrew Balding was contained in his post-race assessment of the colt who is expected to be given his chance to move through the grades when next seen. GLADIUS just took a little time to find his feet in the straight but very pleased with the way he has picked up and stayed onto the line,” Balding said. “It’s nice to get the ball rolling with him.” China Horse Club’s Matt Houldsworth was highly complementary of the maiden performance. “That was a strong win,” Houldsworth said of GLADIUS. “He was green early, but demonstrated a massive turn of foot late on to savage the line beating some highly fancied horses. He’s a very laid back horse and switches off easily which isn’t a bad thing. It was also notable that Oisin Murphy was only riding him hands and heels in the finish.”
GLADIUS was pinhooked by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK, having been purchased at the Goffs November Foal Sales, raised and prepped at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN before being sold at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales to his current connections./short-note/?horse_id=