When Lone Kaj-Nielsen named the chestnut colt that Bent Olsen had found and bought for her at Doncaster shortly before, in the spring of 2023, she told me that he was to be called Great Wish. There were two reasons for that. She had long had a great wish to own a horse by Night Of Thunder – and she had a great wish to see the horse run – and perhaps win – in Dubai.
I hope Lone is following along somewhere up there. Because on Friday 30 January 2026 that great wish came true.
Five-year-old Great Wish went to the top on one of the world’s great racing stages, and it was in a Listed contest: the Dubai Sprint over 1200 metres and with a little over half a million Danish kroner in first prize.
In the hands of Mickael Barzalona, Great Wish had been prepared to the second by his daily carers at Meydan – Tine “Polly” Hansen and Andreas Tapia Dalbark.
In Bent Olsen’s absence both Polly and Andreas had the honour of receiving the trophies on the podium – just a good half hour after Oliver Wilson, Søren Jensen and Hanne Pedersen had stood there to be celebrated following Taifuu’s triumph in the Mawj Stakes.
Two big races in a row. Klampenborg and the Danish flag on top.
For Bent Olsen it was, after many good attempts – including a close second with Red Cactus (Hard Spun) – his first ever win in Dubai.
It may take a little while before it really sinks in what we have just experienced in Danish racing.
So for now let us simply enjoy it. And send the biggest congratulations to the boldly investing owners, their trainers and everyone else taking part in the adventure.
