Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien won the final group I of the European season when Fame and Glory edged stablemate Drumbeat in France's Criterium de Saint-Cloud for 2-year-olds Nov. 12.
It was O'Brien's 23rd group I win of the year, leaving him shy of the record 25 group or grade I victories by a trainer set by Bobby Frankel in 2003.
The first two home in the 1 1/4-mile event are sons of Montjeu owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor. Two others, the fourth place finisher Age of Aquarius and sixth-place Hail Caesar, were also part of the victorious ownership's entry.
Johnny Murtagh guided Fame and Glory to victory over nine rivals. Fame and Glory was forwardly placed, moving up to third in the straight when angled wide as the field spread out across the track. Ridden for the final three-sixteenth of a mile, Fame and Glory took the lead from Feels All Right with 100 yards to run and prevailed in a full drive by a half-length.
Drumbeat, rallying from last, made up ground while weaving through the field through the straight and tagged Feels All Right in the last 50 yards to get the runner-up spot by three-quarters of a length. Feels All Right finished third, a neck in front of Age of Aquarius.
The final time was 2:19.9 over heavy going.
