The Aidan O'Brien-trained Ivan Denisovich will face his former stable companion Frost Giant when both colts line up for tomorrow night's $500,000 Hollywood Derby in Los Angeles.
Frost Giant, winner of the Kilternan Stakes and the Kilavullan Stakes at Leopardstown when trained at Ballydoyle, has been purchased out of the O'Brien yard and is now trained by the American handler, Rick Dutrow Jnr.
Both horses are among the 11-strong field for tomorrow night's mile and a quarter Grade One prize and John Valezquez will again team up with Ivan Denisovich after finishing runner-up on the horse in last summer's Secretariat Stakes at Arlington.
"The horse seems to be in good form," reported O'Brien who is in pursuit of his 15th top-flight success of 2006.
"He came back here after missing out on a run in the Breeders' Cup."
The local opposition will include the Santa Anita Derby winner Brother Derek who was fifth in the Breeders' Cup Classic as well as the leading turf runner, Showing Up.
Other ex-Irish horses running on the prestigious card at Hollywood Park include the ex-John Oxx-trained Beautyandthebeast and the Christophe Clement trained Society Hostess who are among the leading fancies for the Grade One Matriarch Stakes.
Society Hostess is unbeaten in four starts in the US since leaving Dermot Weld.
