O'Brien Duo Among 12 Declared For Racing Post Trophy

Aidan O'Brien will be represented by both King Of Rome and Frozen Fire in the £200,000 Racing Post Trophy (3.40pm) at Doncaster this Saturday, October 27, as he bids to land the prestigious mile contest for the fifth time. A total of 12 horses are set to line up in the final Group One prize of the British Flat season.

King Of Rome, who like his stable companion is a son of Montjeu, will be partnered by Seamie Heffernan. He showed plenty of improvement from his debut seventh at Galway in September to win with plenty in hand at Tipperary on October 7, while Frozen Fire, the mount of Jamie Spencer, scored cosily on his only outing at Gowran Park on August 8.

Aidan O'Brien said today: 'Frozen Fire has had a long break since his win at Gowran but we have been very happy with him and he is a horse we have always liked.

'King Of Rome won very nicely last time. He is another horse we have liked. They will both be lovely horses next year.

'We have taken our time with them. We have been more patient with all the two-year-olds this year because we are looking at them at three and maybe four.

'The two-year-old time is just learning and educational without trying to bottom them. We have purposely done that this year - the seasons are long now and there are a lot of great races all over the world at two, three, four and five.'

The master of Ballydoyle captured the Racing Post Trophy with Saratoga Springs in 1997 and Aristotle two years later before further success in 2001 with High Chaparral, who secured Epsom Derby glory a year later, and in 2002 with Brian Boru, who returned to Doncaster to take the Ladbrokes St Leger as a three-year-old.

He added: 'The Racing Post Trophy is a good race but it is not easy to win so we are hoping they run well.'

Declaration Of War, who chased home Rio De La Plata in the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on October 7, will bid to give trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam a third Racing Post Trophy, following the victories of subsequent Epsom Derby victor Authorized 12 months ago and Commander Collins in 1998.

Sir Michael Stoute, successful with Dilshaan in 2000, relies on Tajaaweed, who made a very promising debut over a mile at Nottingham on October 10, recording an easy five-length success over Hyde Lea Flyer.

The Brian Meehan-trained City Leader, a half-brother to 1998 Racing Post Trophy hero Commander Collins, showed plenty of guts when landing the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot on September 29, a race in which Ridge Dance, trained by John Gosden, finished a never-nearer fourth.

Additional Irish interest is provided by the Jessica Harrington-trained Curtain Call, who never saw another rival when taking the Group Two Beresford Stakes by four lengths at the Curragh on September 30, having chased home New Approach the time before.

Godolphin's only success in the Racing Post Trophy came with Medaaly in 1996. Ibn Khaldun, a son of Dubai Destination out of top-class Gossamer, landed the hat-trick with a taking success in the Group Three Autumn Stakes at Ascot on October 13.

The Paul Cole-trained River Proud, runner-up to Winker Watson in the Group Two July Stakes, got the better of Iguazu Falls in the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month.

The Racing Post Trophy field is completed by the Barry Hills-trained Feared in Flight, seventh to Luck Money in the Parknasilla Hotel Goffs Million at the Curragh last month, Art Master, trained by Sylvester Kirk, who scored readily on Kempton's Polytrack on October 6 when last seen, and Danny Murphy's twice-raced maiden Internationaldebut.

The Racing Post Trophy is the centrepiece of an exciting seven-race card at Doncaster this Saturday, October 27, which also features the £28,000 Coral Trophy Stakes (3.05pm), a Listed prize for two-year-olds over six furlongs, in which the Bryan Smart-trained Maze, winner of the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, heads 12 hopefuls.

The ground at Doncaster has dried out in places ahead of the Racing Post Trophy meeting, which starts on Friday, October 26, with the going now good, good to firm in places.

Jon Pullin, Doncaster's Clerk of the Course, said today: 'We had a dry night with no dew this morning. The course has quickened up in places since yesterday, primarily on the straight course, and the ground is now good, good to firm in places.

'We are thrilled with the field for the Racing Post Trophy. It looks like a very strong line-up and I am sure it will be a very exciting race.'