2011 Royal Ascot: Ballydoyle Wins the G1 Gold Cup Again

In another star-studded day of racing, Fame and Glory stepped on the Royal Ascot turf on Thursday to win the 2.5 mile G1 Gold Cup. The 5-year-old son of Monjeu gave Ballydoyle its fifth Cup in six years with Aidan O’Brien as his trainer.

Much like the other big races witnessed this week, the running didn’t really start until near the final furlong mark. The crowd cheered for the big colt, who had been bet down to 11-8, as Fame and Glory flew to the lead.

The G1 Gold Cup lived up to the racing at Royal Ascot this week as Opinion Poll raced up from the back of the pack to try and challenge Fame and Glory, but in the end the multiple G1 winner held on to win the Gold Cup by three-quarters of a length. Goldolphin owned Opinion Polls made it up for second and Brigantin finished in third.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien knew Fame and Glory could get two miles but he wasn’t as confident about the added distance.

"He's been a Group 1 winner every year since he was a 2-year-old and we never knew until we tried, but we knew he would definitely get two miles. We are privileged to have him and Jamie [Spencer] was very confident and gave him an unbelievable ride," O’Brien told Thoroughbred Daily News.

Fame and Glory has a record of 11 wins, two places and one show in 17 starts. While the bay has multiple G1 wins, it wasn’t until four that the horse was allowed to really shine though as his 3-year-old year was overshadowed by champion Sea the Stars.

Fame and Glory will be taking a run at the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the fall with one prep beforehand. The horse had bad runs in both his 2009 and 2010 showing of the race.