Fairy Glen staged a dramatic reversal of fortunes in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu, surging from the back of the field to overtake the odds‑on favourite Sunly and secure a coveted Group One victory for the Newmarket training partnership of Simon and Ed Criswell. The race, contested over a distance of one mile and six furlongs, saw Mickael Barzalona guide Fairy Glen from a trailing position while a solid early tempo was set by Consent, Cameo, Sugar Island and Amelia Earhart.
As the field turned into the home straight, the five‑year‑old filly launched a fierce late challenge, closing rapidly and ultimately snatching the lead by a narrow neck. Sunly, who had been backed as a 5‑6 favourite and had taken the lead with a furlong left to run, was forced to fend off Barzalona’s late surge.
The decisive moment came when Fairy Glen swung wide in the final furlong, finding a clear run and edging ahead of Sunly at the wire. Amelia Earhart, a former St Leger runner‑up, displayed tenacity to hold on for third place, finishing just three‑quarters of a length behind the winner. The triumph carries special significance for Fairy Glen, who is slated for retirement at the close of the season.
Earlier in the spring, she captured the Group Two Balanchine and the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan, and in May she placed fifth in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier behind Caballo De Mar. Her preparation for the Qatar event included a runner‑up finish in a Listed race at Yarmouth the previous month. Ed Criswell reflected on the race strategy, noting Barzalona’s long‑range tactics: “Mickael told me exactly what would happen – he wanted to keep her relaxed and let her settle far back. He knows her well from their Dubai campaigns and was content to let Sunly lead while Fairy Glen stayed patient.
She never wins by large margins, but she always gets the job done.” Criswell added that Fairy Glen might have been capable of winning at Yarmouth a few weeks earlier, but the connections chose a light effort after her summer break to preserve her for the Group One target. “She’s a top‑class filly and now has a Group One to her name. We’ll discuss with the owners whether there’s any scope for one more run before she heads to the breeding shed.
She’s already entered for Ascot’s Champions Day, and there could be a suitable race back here as well.” In related news, Wimbledon Hawkeye continued a promising debut season for owner George Scott by taking the Qatar Prix Dollar at Longchamp. The son of Kameko, a Royal Lodge winner for James Owen, was acquired privately by the Victorious Forever operation during the off‑season. Since joining the stable, he has justified the investment with a Group Three victory at Deauville and a narrow nose defeat to Hotazhell in last month’s Irish Champion Stakes.
Ridden once again by Christophe Soumillon, Wimbledon Hawkeye proved the class of the field in the Group Two contest, pulling clear to win by half a length over Zaydann. Soumillon praised the colt’s temperament, saying, “He’s a class horse – he’s shown that repeatedly this year.
I was a little nervous about his freshness, but he travelled beautifully and gave a very good performance.” Despite his success, Wimbledon Hawkeye’s odds for the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes were dramatically shortened, yet a run on Ascot’s Champions Day is not in the plans. Scott explained the strategic shift: “The Sheikh Nasser has decided we won’t contest the Champion Stakes.
He wants the horse to finish his season in Bahrain, where he was purchased for. The Bahrain International will be the perfect target after a brief spell at home.” Scott also expressed admiration for his jockey, noting, “It’s great to be linked with Christophe. I don’t know him well personally, but I’ve had a bit of a crush on him since he started riding.
He has the charisma of Oisin Murphy or Frankie Dettori – truly a one‑off talent.” Overall, the Qatar meeting delivered two standout performances. Fairy Glen’s stunning reversal of fortunes not only added a Group One to her résumé but also underscored the skillful patient tactics employed by Barzalona and the Criswell team.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon Hawkeye’s victory reinforced his status as a rising star capable of competing at the highest level, setting the stage for a potential finale in Bahrain later in the year. Both horses have captured the imagination of racing fans and will be closely watched as their respective campaigns draw to a close.