Fame takes Irish Derby glory

Fame And Glory ran out a five-length winner of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh under Johnny Murtagh.Aidan O'Brien's colt was sent off the 8-11 favourite to go one better than when second to Sea The Stars in the Epsom equivalent and travelled nicely towards the rear of the field in the early stages.As the pacemaker dropped away Golden Sword went for home, but Fame And Glory soon reeled him in and powered away in the final furlong to score decisively from his stablemate, with Mourayan third.It was a record-breaking seventh success in the race for O'Brien and a third for Murtagh, following victories aboard Sinndar and Alamshar.O'Brien said: "He's got a lot of tactical speed and was very quick to get into his stride. He's a great traveller and a classy horse. Johnny was over the moon and he has won very snugly."It's unbelievable to win this race again. When there is expectation, like there was, it's always tense - but this is marvellous."O'Brien does not see a drop back in distance to 10 furlongs as a stumbling block, with the Irish Champion Stakes followed by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe the likely targets for Fame And Glory.Murtagh added: "This is like our Royal Ascot and a great champion always wins it. It was a good, solid gallop all the way - he relaxed very well. It was hands and heels, a very easy win."I thought when I worked him in the week he was going to do something like this. I rode Sinndar and Alamshar and they went on to better, and this horse has a similar profile."Of a possible rematch with Epsom winner Sea The Stars, Murtagh added: "He is 1-0 up, but hopefully we'll lock horns later in the year. He improved quite a bit from Epsom, and I don't care what turned up - he would have been hard to beat."