FROZEN Fire, one of five runners for trainer Aidan O'Brien, sprang a 16-1 surprise in a controversial finish to the Irish Derby at the Curragh, hours after favourite and Epsom Classic hero New Approach was pulled out of the race with a bruised foot.
It was a record third victory in a row in the classic for O'Brien and a second in succession for jockey Seamus Heffernan who won last year on Soldier of Fortune.
O'Brien's most fancied runner was 7-1 chance Alessandro Volta, the choice of s
table jockey Johnny Murtagh, who led turning into the straight where he seemed to be going well.
But with half a furlong left the colt suddenly veered away from the rails across English raiders Curtain Call (8-1) and Tartan Bearer, the even money favourite. Frozen Fire managed to avoid all the trouble inside him and swept to a two-length victory on the wide outside. Casual Conquest (4-1) finished second with Alessandro Volta third, just ahead of the unlucky Tartan Bearer and Curtain Call.
A stewards' inquiry was called immediately and to no great surprise Tartan Bearer was promoted to third with Alessandro Volta dropped to fourth.
O'Brien now ranks alongside the legendary Vincent O'Brien after securing his record-equalling sixth Irish Derby.
Heffernan had anchored the Dante runner-up well in arrears and started to cut through runners down the straight. And the race was all but over when Frozen Fire – just 11th at Epsom – shot down the centre of the sun-kissed turf with a burst of speed that left his rivals toiling.
O'Brien, completing a hat-trick of Derby wins following Dylan Thomas in 2006 and Solider Of Fortune 12 months ago, said: "Frozen Fire was second in the Dante but got trapped back in the Derby. Mick (Kinane] came in and said he was very happy with him and that he was a very good horse.
"All we wanted was an even, strong gallop and this is great for everyone involved as there are so many people in the team who make this happen.
"All of ours have ran great races, but I think Alessandro Volta got stage-fright when he turned into the straight and he wouldn't have seen a crowd like that in front of him before.
"This is a very special race and is a full test over a mile and a half. The Curragh is probably the greatest racecourse in the world as it is a very fair track and really tests a horse over a mile and a half."
The race was robbed by an 11th-hour injury to Epsom hero New Approach, and O'Brien added: "I hope New Approach does come back but the pace at Epsom slowed at halfway. When we want our horses to run we want an even pace to make sure the best horse wins.
"If it isn't a strong pace then the best horse often does not win, and to have the best horses winning is important for our whole industry.
"It is a real privilege to be mentioned in the same sentence as Dr Vincent O'Brien."
Heffernan added: "I rode him to run well and it has happened for us. I was really happy when I rode him in his last piece of work. I tracked Pat Smullen during the race and he tracked the favourite. When there was trouble in front I pulled out and got a great run.
"I feel on top of the world winning back-to-back Irish Derbys."
Tartan Bearer failed to build on his Epsom run after suffering interference, and compounded a bad day for jockey Ryan Moore, who was fined 1,000 before racing for being aggressive towards Curragh security staff.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "We were carried halfway across the course and it certainly didn't help."
Curtain Call's jockey Fran Berry added: "Alessandro Volta took me out of the race. I was going to be involved and he had really taken me there."
While losing connections rued their luck, winning owner Michael Tabor took centre stage to receive his trophy from Dubai Duty Free in their first year of sponsorship of the Classic.
Tabor said: "I don't recollect a better time, to have all the winners at Royal Ascot and then to come here and win a Derby I suppose is the pinnacle."
Coolmore supremo John Magnier added: "
We have to commiserate with Jim Bolger after his horse was withdrawn but I am sure there will be great days ahead."
The full article contains 764 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
