Fame And Glory will face 14 rivals as he bids to assume the mantle of his former stablemate Yeats in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday.
Aidan O’Brien’s five-year-old has won four Group Ones already in a celebrated career to date, but it has been the plan for some time to step him up to the marathon trip of two and a half miles (4000m).
Yeats famously won the race four times before earning an honourable retirement and arguably Fame And Glory has stronger form over middle distances having won an Irish Derby, Tattersalls Gold Cup and Coronation Cup to date.
However, his victory in the Saval Beg Stakes over a mile and three-quarters (2800m) at his last start remains the longest trip he has tackled so far.
With last year’s winner Rite Of Passage missing the race, the betting suggests his sternest test will come from John Gosden’s Duncan, who runs here rather than in the Hardwicke Stakes later in the week.
He beat Blue Bajan in the Yorkshire Cup but is another with stamina doubts.
Following that fine effort, Blue Bajan then went on to win the Henry II Stakes at Sandown, convincing connections to fork out STG25,000 ($A38,497) to supplement him for this. He will be fledgling trainer David O’Meara’s first Group One runner.
Gold Cup regular Geordieland had his heart broken on more than on occasion by Yeats and returns after over 600 days off the track for Jamie Osborne.
Godolphin have two runners, Holberg, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, and Opinion Poll partnered by Mickael Barzalona.
Kasbah Bliss and Brigantin are the French challengers while Fictional Account joins Fame And Glory from Ireland.
Aaim To Prosper, Askar Tau, Manighar, Tastahil, The Betchworth Kid and Motrice complete the line up.
PA AAP TURF
