Fame And Glory won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday, giving Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien a fifth victory in the prestigious race.
The 11-8 favorite, ridden by Jamie Spencer, won the 2-1/2-mile race by three lengths ahead of 16-1 shot Opinion Poll. Brigantin, which also went out at 16-1, was 4-1/2 lengths farther back in third.
''We didn't go very fast early,'' Spencer said. ''My fellow wasn't keen, but because he has so much class, he is used to going that bit quicker . . . Aidan's a great trainer, and his first two races this season were all about bringing him on.
''Everybody was doubting him for the last few weeks, but we never had any doubts and I'm absolutely tickled pink.''
The 5-year-old Fame And Glory's stablemate, Yeats, won the Gold Cup four consecutive times for O'Brien between 2006 and 2009.
Queen Elizabeth II, who unveiled a statute of Yeats at Ascot on Tuesday, presented the Gold Cup to O'Brien.
''Very few mile-and-a-quarter Group 1 winners run in the Gold Cup,'' O'Brien said. ''(But) when horses have so much class, they can often stay. Class makes them stay, and it's the ultimate test when you go that extreme distance.
''Class is very hard to replace, and Jamie was very confident and gave him an unbelievable ride.''
In the King George V Stakes, Manchester United striker Michael Owen was celebrating when Brown Panther finished six lengths ahead of Census.
The 4-1 joint-favorite, which is trained by Tom Dascombe and ridden by Richard Kingscote, is part of Owen's Manor House stables in northern England.
''When I play football, I don't get nervous because I can do something about it,'' said Owen, whose United side won the Premier League last month. ''With racing, you are in the lap of the gods.
''I don't deserve any credit. Obviously, I've invested a lot of money, but it's all down to Tom, Richard and the staff. I'm just the owner, but I'm delighted to have such a nice horse. There's not many better feelings than this.''
