Fame And Glory thrives on stamina test June 30th, 2009
The Derby winners absence meant that we were not expecting to see the stars here yesterday. In the event, however, Fame And Glory lit up the overcast skies with a thoroughly convincing victory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.
Fame And Glorys five-length rout of Golden Sword was beautifully orchestrated by his stablemates and expertly delivered by Johnny Murtagh. The jockey was quick to lament the late withdrawal of Sea The Stars, who proved Fame And Glorys superior in the Derby. But the beauty of the classics is that you only get one chance. Fame And Glorys was blown at Epsom by tactical negligence.
There was no chance of that happening here. Rockhampton, one of six Ballydoyle-trained runners, set up the race perfectly for Golden Sword to make a long and searching run for home. That made it a real test of stamina, allowing Fame And Glory to live up to his name.
Inevitably, the Ballydoyle camp suggested that Fame And Glory might have beaten allcomers on this showing. He was a different proposition today, Murtagh said. Whatever turned up today, hed have been very difficult to beat.
Whether Fame And Glory has progressed to that extent is arguable. He finished about as far in front of Mourayan, the third horse home, as he had in the Derrinstown Derby Trial six weeks ago. And however the theories stack up, the onus is now on Fame And Glory to seek a showdown with Sea The Stars. To do so will require this model middle-distance runner to drop back in distance.
Even then, Aidan OBrien seemed keen on the idea. I dont think ten furlongs will be any problem, the trainer said. Hes a horse with tactical speed who travels strongly through his races. In my opinion, the sky is the limit.
Although debate will rage, at least until Sea The Stars reappears in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on Saturday, the most plausible verdict is that Ballydoyles tactics here were as well-executed as they were wayward at Epsom, where they played their part in a modestly-run race.
John Magnier, part-owner of Fame And Glory, described the colt in the mould of Montjeu and Hurricane Run, both supreme 12-furlong performers. Unless he proves otherwise, the suspicion is that Fame And Glory may struggle to contain Sea The Stars over anything shorter.
Whatever transpires, OBrien carved himself another slice of history here. This was his seventh Irish Derby triumph, one more that Vincent OBrien, who died this month. Vincent, of course, founded the Ballydoyle institution that is now home to his younger, unrelated namesake. All these bloodlines were instigated by Vincent, Magnier reflected yesterday. He set up Ballydoyle and Aidan has continued it. Vincent would be very proud.
Vincents daughter, Susan, bridges the time divide at Ballydoyle. Susan is married to Magnier, Ballydoyles principal patron and employer of Aidan. It was good to see her savouring Fame And Glorys triumph, which became a family celebration embracing several generations by the time OBrien and Murtaghs children – there are almost enough of them to field a football team – stepped up to the winners podium.
Earlier, OBriens mastery of racing in Ireland was emphasised when he saddled the winner of the Netjets Railway Stakes for the eleventh time in 13 years. Alfred Nobel showed a smart turn of foot to earn 2,000 Guineas quotes as low as 14-1. However, the son of Danehill Dancer does not look from the top drawer.
A more likely candidate is Steinbeck, who is expected to return to action shortly. A recent growth spurt prompted connections to back off Steinbeck but the colt is a possible runner at Newmarkets July meeting.
For all his promise, Steinbeck will do well to emulate the achievements of Benbaun, who posted his seventh victory here in the Sapphire Stakes. It was the eight-year-olds first victory in nearly two years – and first for Kevin Ryan, who inherited the gelding when Mark Wallace moved to Australia.
Spanish Moon did not have to travel so far to make his mark. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained five-year-old gained a well-deserved group one triumph when he landed the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud under Ryan Moore.