HORSE PROFILE

Foaled: 2006

Trained by: Aidan O'Brien

Owners: Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor

Jockeys: Johnny Murtagh & Seamie Heffernan

SIRE: Montjeu

Dam: Gryada

Did you know: A late developer as a juvenile, Fame And Glory only made his debut in late October last season winning a mile maiden on testing ground at Navan but within three weeks he was already a Group One winner as he defeated stablemate Drumbeat in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in France. His three year old career began at Leopardstown in mid-April as he lined up for the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes and despite the fact that he was conceding upwards of 5lbs to his nine rivals, he proved a fairly decisive winner with the well regarded Mourayan (stable companion of Sea The Stars) back in third place. Considering that most of Fame And Glory's stablemates were improving considerably for their seasonal debuts, this was a particularly good effort and when he lined up for the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial over the same course three weeks later, it was no surprise to see him starting a strong favourite. Coming from well off the pace under Seamie Heffernan, Fame And Glory proved a most impressive five length winner and was promoted to favouritism for the Epsom Derby.

In the lead up to the Epsom showpiece stable jockey Johnny Murtagh deliberated long and hard about which colt he would ride and it was something of a surprise that he opted for Rip Van Winkle as there were considerable doubts about that particular colt's stamina for the mile and a half test. Seamie Heffernan renewed his association with Fame And Glory and after attracting some hefty market support including two monster wagers of £50,000, he started the 9/4 favourite at the off. However, the expected fast early pace did not materialise and while Fame And Glory was never too far behind the leaders at any stage, he never really looked like winning from the two furlong pole as he was always playing catch up on Sea The Stars. In the end he went down by a length and three quarters but still emerged best of the Ballydoyle sextet which contested the race and afterwards it was interesting to hear Seamie Heffernan saying that he would ride the race differently if given a second chance.

Three weeks later, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby was the scene for the eagerly awaited re-match between the Epsom Derby first and second but unfortunately Sea The Stars was ruled out due to the rain softened ground at the eleventh hour. This resulted in Fame And Glory starting a heavily backed 8/11 favourite and in a race run at a searching pace throughout, he was given a patient ride by Johnny Murtagh as he moved smoothly through the field to hit the front over a furlong out and was not extended to score by five lengths from stable companion Golden Sword and old rival Mourayan. While it was not the strongest Irish Derby field ever assembled, Fame And Glory proved an impressive winner just as his sire, Montjeu, had done when scoring in the same race in 1999 and connections were quick to nominate the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in early September as his next target with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October, for which he is currently the ante-post favourite, very much on his agenda. Having tasted defeat just once in his six racecourse starts, Fame And Glory is obviously a very high class colt however, he was beaten by five time Group 1 winner Sea The Stars over ten furlongs in the Champion Stakes in a race that has been titled the best flat race in the last century.