Frozen Fire wins controversial Irish Derby

Frozen Fire, one of five runners for trainer Aidan O'Brien, sprang a 16-1 surprise to win a controversial Irish Derby at the Curragh yesterday.

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 stable jockey Johnny Murtagh, who led turning into the straight where he seemed to be going well.

But with 200 metres 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.

Frozen Fire's victory meant a record-equalling sixth Irish Derby success for O'Brien who also became the only man to win the race three years in succession since the classic was first contested in 1866.

The win had been made easier, however, by the withdrawal of injured pre-race favourite New Approach, the colt that beat Tartan Bearer in the Epsom Derby three weekends ago.

New Approach suffered a bruised foot on Friday and trainer Jim Bolger, who had been hoping the injury might improve, had no option but to pull him out hours before the race.