Jamie Spencer teamed up with his old boss Aidan O’Brien on Thursday to win the Gold Cup aboard Fame And Glory.
Although the five-year-old colt had never run over the punishing two-and-a-half mile (4000m) trip before he was heavily supported in the betting markets before being sent off the 11-8 favourite.
Fame And Glory, winner of the Irish Derby in 2009, stayed every inch of the trip, however, and followed in the hoof prints of former stablemate Yeats who won four successive Gold Cups from 2006.
Spencer was the retained rider for the Coolmore-backed Ballydolyle yard for 12 months before he left O’Brien’s stables in 2005.
“We’re getting along a lot better now,” joked Spencer afterwards.
“It was a great training performance by Aidan and I am privileged to ride the horse.”.
Fame And Glory had never run beyond 2,800m, having won Group 1 races over 2,000m, 2,200m and 2,400m. On his latest start, he won the Seval Beg Stakes in Ireland and it was then that O’Brien believed that his five-year-old would last home.
“When horses have so much class they often stay and he did,” said O’Brien.
“He was the ideal candidate for this race. I’m never confident, always hopeful, but he stayed a mile and a half at the top level and you just hoped he would stay this extreme distance.”
Richard Hills set a moderate pace on the guaranteed stayer Tastahil, but jockey Richard Hughes could not contain Geordieland, who had not seen racecourse action for 643 days, and the pair went to the front with 1,600m left in the race.
As the field came out of Swinley Bottom, the famous bend at Ascot, it was up to Spencer to pull the trigger and Fame And Glory bounded to glory.
Godolphin’s Opinion Poll, ridden by Mickael Barzalona was second, while the French raider Brigantin, trained by Derby-winning handler Andre Fabre, was third.
“Jamie produced him at just the right time,” added O’Brien.
“He waited, and waited and asked him for one kick. It took three to four lengths off the field. Jamie had ridden him in two races (earlier in the season) and was confident he would stay.”
Spencer enjoyed considerable success riding for Ballydoyle including Group 1 successes in the Tattersalls Gold Cup aboard Powerscourt and the St Leger on Brian Boru.
After he had left his retained position he also rode Excellent Art to victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes in 2007.
“I was always a big admirer of Jamie,” said O’Brien of their split.
“He was a young little fella. Coming into a pressure group like ours cannot have been an easy step for him. I can probably be a little intense some times. I didn’t blame him from running away from me.”
Fame And Glory will now enjoy a mid-summer break before a possible tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, in which he finished fifth behind Workforce last year.
Opinion Poll never looked like reeling in Fame And Glory despite a patient ride from Barzalona that was similar to his swoop on Pour Moi in the English Derby.
That day Barzalona came from last to first to win his first British Classic which prompted an outrageous celebration involving the teenager standing up in his irons before he crossed the line.
“Opinion Poll finished very well, but not as well as Pour Moi,” said Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager.
“Mickael put him to sleep at the back of the field and he picked up really well. We were hoping for that stand-up finish but it wasn’t to be.”
It was a bittersweet day for the American challengers as Everyday Dave, trained by Wesley Ward, could only finish 11th in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes won by Bapak Chinta.
Jeffrey Sanchez, the Puerto Rican jockey, enjoyed the experience of riding and was looking forward to partnering Judy the Beauty on Friday in the Albany Stakes before she was scratched from the race.
“It is a good experience for me to ride at Royal Ascot, said Sanchez, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies aboard Awesome Featherin November.
“I would like to come back next year, and maybe I will have a winner tomorrow.”
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