The curtain might come down on a glitzy career when The Glitzy One lines up in the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton tomorrow.
The 6yr-old has collected $188,308 in prize money in 43 starts and her trainer, Steven Anderton, said tomorrow's 2500m feature could be the O'Reilly mare's last.
''I pretty much think this will be her last race,'' Anderton said.
''She won't be coming back next year. She's probably more valuable with her in foal.''
Anderton had not finalised the retirement with her owners, the Dennis brothers, but her high rating of 103 is a contributing factor.
''She's getting too much weight and she's only a wee horse. She struggles to carry those top weights.''
It would seem right if The Glitzy One's last race was the Great Autumn, Anderton said.
''It would be lovely if she could [win] because she's won it the last two years. It would be lovely to get three of them.''
Anderton was satisfied with the mare's fourth in the Riverton Cup behind stablemate The Solitaire as she backed up from her brave second in the Canterbury Gold Cup.
''She had a hard run the week before, and she might have just had the edge off her a wee bit,'' he said.
''She's done everything all right since. I haven't done a hell of a lot with her, just a couple of bits of pace work.''
Anderton expects to scratch The Solitaire this morning. He entered her with the hope of the track drying out by Saturday, but
it was rated heavy11 yesterday.
The obvious threat to The Glitzy One is the Kevin Myers-trained Mahanadi. The talented son of Tiger Hill is equally adept on the flat or over hurdles and was solid in his second run back in this campaign at Waterlea last week.
