THE Montjeu sire line lost a prominent member this week when multiple Group 1 winner Fame And Glory died after suffering a suspected heart attack. Aged just 11, Fame And Glory has yet to have his first National Hunt runners as his first crop has just turned three.

He was hugely popular with breeders, covering almost 350 mares in 2015 alone and close to 250 last year. At the sales his foals have fetched more than €50,000 on several occasions.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Fame And Glory raced 26 times over five seasons and won 14 races. They included a Group 1 race win at age two, three, four and five. In addition, he finished second to Sea The Stars in both the Epsom Derby and Irish Champion Stakes. He won the Irish Derby by an easy five lengths and proved his versaitility, winning the 10-furlong Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Ascot Gold Cup over twice that distance – arguably his most impressive performance. He raced in the colours of Derrick Smith until turning five when Jim and Fitri Hay bought into the horse.

Fame And Glory retired to Coolmore’s Grange Stud in 2013 and his stud fee was €5,000. It was raised to €7,000 in 2016 and was due to remain at that figure this year.

Coolmore’s National Hunt stallion team still has two other Montjeu sons – Leading Light and Walk In The Park. Montjeu’s most famous National Hunt representative to-date is the prolific Hurricane Fly.