Frozen Fire
June 30th 2008 06:54
Aidan O'Brien became the first trainer to win three Irish Derbies in a row after the unexpected - and controversial - victory by Frozen Fire in the 3yo classic at the Curragh.
(photo: RacingPost)
It was a race of high drama from the morning of the race, to the stewards' inquiry post-race. Jim Bolger scratched the Epsom Derby winner and pre-post favourite, New Approach, on the morning of the race with what was initially reported as a stone bruise. Bolger later ordered a series of scans and x-rays as he fears it may be more severe and muscular in nature. He stated:
'"My experience of muscular problems is that it usually takes 10 days or 10 weeks,' the trainer said. 'It could still be a bruise, but I can categorically say it's not a stone bruise as we don’t have any stones.'"
The Irish Derby was completed with more hard-luck stories than you would wish for in a classic of the turf. When the field straightened for the run to the post Aidan O'Brien's more fancied horse, Alessandro Volta (ridden by Johnny Murtagh), claimed the lead and it looked a contest between him and the closing Tartan Bearer and Curtain Call. But Alessandro Volta veered off a straight course and seriously inconvenienced Tartan Bearer and Curtain Call. The runner-up, Casual Conquest stayed out of this scrimmage, while Frozen Fire was hooked wide around most of the trouble and stormed down the outside for an easy win. Seamus Heffernan rode Frozen Fire and has now won two Irish Derbies in succession after an earlier success on Soldier Of Fortune last Year. The brilliant Dylan Thomas is the other Aidan O'Brien horse to (recently) win and be part of this Ballydole hat-trick.
Frozen Fire did have to change course in the straight, but still had the momentum to sprint quickly around the trouble and secure an emphatic victory. A lesser horse may not have had the acceleration. Tartan Bearer narrowly defeated Frozen Fire in the Dante Stakes at York before the Epsom Derby where Frozen Fire failed to handle the Epsom track (and overcome a poor ride). This win by Frozen Fire will be tainted by the controversy, but so fast did he sprint over the concluding stages that perhaps only the winning margin might have been different without the interference. He defeated (runner-up) Casual Contest on his merits - the question is whether he would have overcome Tartan Bearer, who did suffer from severe interference. Allesandro Volta finished third across the line but was demoted by stewards to last place after the event.
Aidan O'Brien believes that Alessandro Volta took fright after he turned for home and saw and heard the crowd that he was quickly approaching. Tartan Bearer has now been runner-up in both Epsom and Irish Derbies. Hopefully we will see more of the rivalry between Tartan Bearer, Frozen Fire, New Approach and (for added interest) Henrythenavigator in the future.
Irish Derby result:
1. Frozen Fire (J A Heffernan) 16-1
2. Casual Conquest 4-1
3. Tartan Bearer Evens fav
2008 Irish Derby:
Frozen Fire narrowly defeated by Tartan Bearer in the Dante Stakes:
Frozen Fire wins controversial Irish Derby
(photo: RacingPost)
It was a race of high drama from the morning of the race, to the stewards' inquiry post-race. Jim Bolger scratched the Epsom Derby winner and pre-post favourite, New Approach, on the morning of the race with what was initially reported as a stone bruise. Bolger later ordered a series of scans and x-rays as he fears it may be more severe and muscular in nature. He stated:
'"My experience of muscular problems is that it usually takes 10 days or 10 weeks,' the trainer said. 'It could still be a bruise, but I can categorically say it's not a stone bruise as we don’t have any stones.'"
The Irish Derby was completed with more hard-luck stories than you would wish for in a classic of the turf. When the field straightened for the run to the post Aidan O'Brien's more fancied horse, Alessandro Volta (ridden by Johnny Murtagh), claimed the lead and it looked a contest between him and the closing Tartan Bearer and Curtain Call. But Alessandro Volta veered off a straight course and seriously inconvenienced Tartan Bearer and Curtain Call. The runner-up, Casual Conquest stayed out of this scrimmage, while Frozen Fire was hooked wide around most of the trouble and stormed down the outside for an easy win. Seamus Heffernan rode Frozen Fire and has now won two Irish Derbies in succession after an earlier success on Soldier Of Fortune last Year. The brilliant Dylan Thomas is the other Aidan O'Brien horse to (recently) win and be part of this Ballydole hat-trick.
Frozen Fire did have to change course in the straight, but still had the momentum to sprint quickly around the trouble and secure an emphatic victory. A lesser horse may not have had the acceleration. Tartan Bearer narrowly defeated Frozen Fire in the Dante Stakes at York before the Epsom Derby where Frozen Fire failed to handle the Epsom track (and overcome a poor ride). This win by Frozen Fire will be tainted by the controversy, but so fast did he sprint over the concluding stages that perhaps only the winning margin might have been different without the interference. He defeated (runner-up) Casual Contest on his merits - the question is whether he would have overcome Tartan Bearer, who did suffer from severe interference. Allesandro Volta finished third across the line but was demoted by stewards to last place after the event.
Aidan O'Brien believes that Alessandro Volta took fright after he turned for home and saw and heard the crowd that he was quickly approaching. Tartan Bearer has now been runner-up in both Epsom and Irish Derbies. Hopefully we will see more of the rivalry between Tartan Bearer, Frozen Fire, New Approach and (for added interest) Henrythenavigator in the future.
Irish Derby result:
1. Frozen Fire (J A Heffernan) 16-1
2. Casual Conquest 4-1
3. Tartan Bearer Evens fav
2008 Irish Derby:
Frozen Fire narrowly defeated by Tartan Bearer in the Dante Stakes:
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