A couple of additions to the MDK string at Newmarket.
Frozen Fire and Golden Sword join Mike De Kock
FROZEN FIRE, winner of last year's Irish Derby, and Golden Sword, fifth behind Sea The Stars in this season's Epsom equivalent, have left Aidan O'Brien and will be joining Mike De Kock's growing team in Newmarket.
No details of their purchase were available on Monday, as the deal to buy them has only just been finalised, but Juan Nel, assistant to De Kock, confirmed that the two colts would be housed at the South African trainer's Abington Place base on the Bury Road and eventually raced in Dubai.
Nel said: "I know absolutely nothing aboutthe background to the purchases, but I can confirm that they will be joining Mike and I am assuming, from what I've heard, that they'll be coming here to Newmarket to be trained."
Frozen Fire has been disappointing this year, finishing a well-beaten seventh behind Conduit on his latest start in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, while Golden Storm, runner-up to O'Brien's Fame And Glory in the Irish Derby after his Epsom effort, came home fifth in the same Ascot event.
MIKE DE KOCK'S PREVIOUS BALLYDOYLE BUYS Year of purchase Horse name Significant performances under O'Brien Significant performances under De Kock
2006 Mullins Bay won G3 Strensall Stakes 3rd G2 Godolphin Mile
2007 Admiralofthefleet won G2 Royal Lodge/ G3 Dee 4th G1 Secretariat (US)
Archipenko won G2 Leops Derby Trial; last Derby won G1 QEII Cup (HK)/G2 Summer Mile (Ascot); 2nd G1 Arlington Million; 3rd G1 Duty Free (Dubai)
Brave Tin Soldier won Curragh Listed won Nad Al Sheba hcap
Eagle Mountain 2nd Derby/ Champion Stakes won G1 HK Cup; 2nd Breeders’ Cup Turf
2008 Kingdom Of Naples won Navan maiden no runs
King Of Rome won G2 (twice) Leops; 12th in Derby 3rd G2 Nad Al Sheba
Macarthur won G2 Hardwicke; 3rd G1 Coro Cup 14th Sheema Classic (Dubai)
Trinity College won minor races at Cork/ Fairyhouse unplaced (twice) at Nad Al Sheba
Zulu Chief won Naas maiden; 3rd G2 Curragh no runs
NB. Also trains Front House (won G2 Dubai City of Gold), part-owned by Sue Magnier
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