All looks set for Glacius to remain in North America to contest next month's Nashville Derby.
Hugo Palmer's daring plot to run his star three-year-old in upstate North America earlier this month paid off big time when he landed the Saratoga Derby in impressive style.
Glacius not only became a Grade 1 winner, but also scooped more than £300,000 for connections and he will now seek further riches when he runs for £887,840 at Keeneland.
The son of Too Darn Hot finished third in each of his last two runs in the UK, once behind Generic in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot and subsequently behind Sallaal in a Listed event at Sandown.
Although he has been found wanting at the very top level domestically, he stacks up well against the top turf horses over in the States.
“He’s come home from Saratoga, Hugo wanted to bring him back home, train him for a little while and he will get an invite to the Nashville Derby which is the weekend of September 5, which will mean him flying back out to America in a few weeks’ time," Speers told the media.
“I would say that is the likely next run for him. I know he’s a Grade One winner in a Grade Two and will have to carry a little bit of a penalty.
“The Saratoga Derby was nine and a half furlongs and the Nashville Derby is 10 and a half, but the extra furlong will help him even further."
Last year's Nashville Derby was won by a British raider in Wimbledon Hawkeye and the Palmer team will be hoping to keep the trophy over this side of the Atlantic, especially given the prize money on offer.
Glacius earned £18,830 for his third at the Royal meeting, but should he run third at Keeneland on 5th September he will take home £263,200.
“I think he’s had some of the best three-year-old turf horses from America behind him last time, and it will be interesting to see which horses go out from Europe, but it’s nice for him to run for a first prize of around $1 million," Speers added.
“That’s a lot of money and it’s prestigious race now, it’s a Grade Two, so I’d say that’s his most likely next start and then possibly a tilt at the Bahrain International Trophy in November."
