Fire swoops to conquer in Irish Derby Ballydoyle second string Frozen Fire swept down the outside to run out an impressive winner of the Irish Derby after a incident packed finish to the Dubai Duty Free sponsored classic at the Curragh. The race took a dramatic twist at the furlong pole as leader Alessandro Volta dived left hampering both Tartan Bearer and Curtain Call. Seamus Heffernan took his mount around the trouble to charge home in the closing stages for a two-and-a-half length victory. The 16/1 shot had been held up last in the early stages and still had plenty to do at the two furlong pole. Heffernan moved closer over a furlong out, however, and his mount found a telling change of gear to swoop past and grab the glory. Casual Conquest ran on for second with Alessandro Volta filling the third spot. He subsequently lost that position to 1/1f Tartan Bearer after a stewards enquiry. "It´s marvellous," said a delighted Aidan O´Brien after the victory. "This is a very special race and the Curragh is one of the greatest if not the greatest track in the world." "All we wanted coming here was a good solid even run mile-and-a-half race and all our horses ran great races. "Frozen Fire had a great run in the Dante but got trapped out the back in the Derby after the pace went out of the race in the middle part. "It´s important for the genes going forward that people know what the best horses are over a distance and it´s important that we get a strong pace in races like this. "Mick (Kinane) came back in a told me to ignore the run and that he was a very good horse. Seamie had been riding him in his work and he was the one he picked. "The plan was for Seamie to take his time and let the race unfold and that´s what he done. He gave him a beautiful ride. "Mick even said after Epsom that he wouldn´t mind a drop back to 1m2f and Seamie said the same today." Heffernan was claiming back-to-back successes in the classic having partnered Soldier Of Fortune to victory last year and O´Brien was full of praise for the yard´s number two jockey. "Seamie is a great fellow. He works very hard and is a great jockey. Every year he gets better and better and nobody deserves it more. "There are so many people involved in this horse from the day he was conceived. It´s great teamwork and I feel priveleged to be involved with so many special people." O´Brien felt the size of the crowd spooked Alessandro Volta: "When he turned in he saw the stand´s and he´s never had to race into a crowd like that before. He got a bit of stagefright." Connections of the winner also wished New Approach a quick recovery with part-owner John Magnier saying:" Commiserations have to go to Jim Bolger and connections. We wish the horse a speedy recovery."
