ST. LEGER

Frozen Fire 'far from certain' for St Leger

Brian Fleming


FROZEN FIRE, who is as short as 7-2 for next month's Ladbrokes St Leger, was described on Monday as “far from certain” to take his chance in the final Classic of the season.

Only Queen's Vase winner Patkai was trading shorter than the Irish Derby winner for the Doncaster race on September 6, and although trainer Aidan O'Brien said he is back in work after a break following his Curragh triumph at the end of June, he added: “We are thinking of giving him an Arc prep or a racecourse gallop before possibly going for the Arc. He's far from certain to go for St Leger.”

O'Brien was speaking by phone link at the launch of the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes where he said that Duke Of Marmalade could bid to go one place better than in the race in 2007.

The four-time Group 1 winner was sandwiched by stablemates Dylan Thomas and Red Rock Canyon as part of a Ballydoyle 1-2-3 last year and he could spearhead the challenge for O'Brien, who shall be seeking his sixth Irish Champion Stakes win in nine years, on September 6.

O'Brien said: “The plan is the Juddmonte International and we'll then have a look at the Irish Champion Stakes. We hope to have him for the race and the others are all possibles.”

O'Brien is responsible for a dozen entries including Soldier Of Fortune and Henrythenavigator.

The Irish Champion Stakes has been mentioned by Jim Bolger as a possible target for New Approach's return to the racecourse while Dermot Weld has confirmed that his Epsom Derby third and Irish Derby runner-up Casual Conquest is on track for the race.

The potential British challenge is headed by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Promising Lead with Godolphin's Rio De La Plata also figuring along with a quintet from the Henry Cecil yard that includes Phoenix Tower and Twice Over.

- RACINGPOST