Gold for Fame And Glory

Ballydoyle ace follows in hoofprints of Yeats

Last updated: 16th June 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Fame And Glory: Gold Cup winner

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Fame And Glory landed a monster gamble in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Ladies' Day.

Aidan O'Brien's son of Montjeu was backed in from a morning price of 3-1 to 11-8 favourite before romping home by three lengths.

The five-year-old son of Montjeu cruised through the race under Jamie Spencer and went to the front turning for home.

It briefly looked as though Opinion Poll (16-1) might reel in the Ballydoyle horse as he made his charge under Mickael Barzalona but Fame And Glory found more at the business end.

Opinion Poll was a gallant runner-up with French raider Brigantin (16-1) a further four and a half lengths back in third.

Comparisons will inevitably be made with the winner's former stablemate Yeats who famously won four Gold Cups.

Easy

"It was a very easy, push-button ride," exclaimed Spencer.

"It was a great training performance."

O'Brien said: "I'm delighted for everybody and for Jamie, who gave him a great ride.

"Thanks to everybody for letting a horse with his class run in the Gold Cup.

"Very few mile-and-a-quarter Group One winners you see running run in a Gold Cup.

"When horses have so much class they can often stay - class makes them stay.

"It's the ultimate test of class when you go that extreme distance.

"I'm just very privileged to have him."

French test

O'Brien continued: "The plan was after today to give him a break and train him for the Arc again, so we'll take one step at a time and do like we always did with Yeats and give him a run at the back-end.

"We'll give him a break now and hopefully give him a run before the Arc.

"The Gold Cup next year? Wouldn't it be marvellous."

Class

Spencer added: "We didn't go very fast early and I was delighted when I saw Geordieland going around the field with a mile and a half to go to inject a bit of pace.

"My fellow wasn't keen, but because he has so much class he is used to going that bit quicker, so when Geordieland went on that made him more comfortable.

"Aidan's a great trainer and his first two races this season were all about bringing him on.

"Everybody was doubting him for the last few weeks, but we never had any doubts and I'm absolutely tickled pink."

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