News

Friesan Fire is Ready for Derby

28th Apr 2009

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Tuesday, 28 April 2009

The Group One Kentucky Derby is run at Churchill Downs this weekend and Australian interest will centre around the AP Indy colt Friesan Fire, whose dam is Australian bred Coolmore Classic winner Bollinger (pictured).

Friesan Fire flew in his final workout on April 27 at Churchill Downs, working five furlongs in a sizzling 57 4/5.

With jockey Gabriel Saez in the saddle, the 3-year-old colt turned in splits of :11 1/5, :22 1/5, :33 3/5, and 45:1/5 galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.

”The work might have been perceived as a little quick based on traditional times, but Friesan Fire did it so well and within himself,” Vinery general manager Tom Ludt told US Bloodhorse.

“Gabe wasn’t really (urging) him, so we’re as happy as can be. Gabe thought he went in a minute. When he hooked up with Larry, he said, ‘What did I do, boss? A minute?’ so he thought he was going easy.”

Trainer Larry Jones is delighted with his charge comparing him to previous Derby contender Hard Spun, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby.

“As of the Monday before the Derby, we’re happy,” Jones said following Friesan Fire’s effort. “He had a good, long work at Keeneland the other day, which was quite a bit faster than Hard Spun had done. Then he came back and was only a tick off of what Hard Spun did here, plus I worked Hard Spun in company.

"This horse was doing it by himself. He’s telling me we’ve done right. You can look at him and tell. He’s kind of glistening all over. I think he’s ready, and hopefully, if this works for the Derby, then we’re going to be in really good shape for the Triple Crown, because we’ll have a fresher horse than most everybody else.”

Friesan Fire hasn’t raced since cruising to a seven and a quarter length victory in the Group Two Louisiana Derby on March 14.