FROZEN FIRE has provided Aidan O'Brien one Classic success this season and can give the Ballydoyle handler yet another top-level victory in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster tomorrow.
The son of Montjeu was no great shakes as a juvenile and was not particularly well fancied for his reappearance in the Dante Stakes at York.
However, he belied his price tag that day to go down by just a head to Tartan Bearer, booking his ticket t
o Epsom for the Vodafone Derby in the process.
He was all at sea over the contours of the Downs in June but put that disappointing display behind him when springing something of a surprise in the Irish Derby at the Curragh.
Frozen Fire has been given plenty of time to recuperate from a busy early season and, while this step up in trip is a journey into the unknown, O'Brien rarely gets it wrong and it will take a brave man to oppose him on Town Moor.
The rearranged Ladbrokes Sprint Cup adds further spice to a top-class afternoon of sport and it could pay to side with French raider African Rose, especially given the likely soft conditions. The three-year-old has progressed at a rate of knots this season, starting the year with a third-place in a small race at Saint-Cloud and, most recently, chasing home Marchand D'Or in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.
That was a fantastic effort, given the latter is probably the best sprinter in Europe and, with Doncaster's testing ground sure to suit, African Rose looks sure to get involved in the finish.
Zacinto went into numerous notebooks when dotting up on his debut and should continue on an upward curve in the Keepmoat Champagne Stakes.
The juvenile clearly was sent off an odds-on favourite for his first racecourse appearance and did not let his supporters down – putting his rivals to the sword by eight lengths.
That stunning display elevated the Sir Michael Stoute inmate to prominence in the betting for next year's 2000 Guineas.
Zacinto will surely have to take this if he is going to be considered for Classic glory next May.
Look Busy has already rattled up five victories this term and, with a nice draw, it is difficult to see her not adding to her tally in the Stowe Family Law LLP Henry Gee Fillies' Stakes at Chester.
Lesson In Humility showed she is better than handicap company when scoring at York last time and can get off the mark at Listed level in the Starlit Stakes at Goodwood.
Servoca has finished second on four of his six starts and few would begrudge him victory in EBF Lapwing Maiden at Great Leighs, while Hold The Bucks has also been running well in defeat and can take the Stewart & Co 50th Year Anniversary Nursery at Kempton.
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