Godolphin homebred Frosted (Tapit) had high hopes riding on his back heading into his seasonal debut in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 at Meydan Thursday, and the grey exited that test with his reputation intact, and one step closer to a date in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26. Among the fastest away from his middle gate, last year's GI Wood Memorial winner was hung three-wide into the first turn but crossed over to sit second, about a length off the front-running Munaaser (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), as the field swung into the backstretch. Racing a touch keenly through moderate fractions under William Buick, Frosted pulled his way up to sit just off Munaaser's shoulder, with Prayer For Relief (Jump Start) a formidable presence to his outside. While most of the contenders began to come under a ride rounding the turn, Buick sat motionless aboard Frosted and, when the grey switched leads approaching the 250 metre mark, he accelerated clear to win by a geared-down five lengths in a new course record time.
Thursday, Meydan, Middle East
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R2 SPONSORED BY EGA-G2, $250,000, MEY, 2-4, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1900m, 1:56.67 (NTR), ft.
1–FROSTED, 126, c, 4, by Tapit">Tapit
1st Dam: Fast Cookie (GSW-US, $557,480), by Deputy Minister
2nd Dam: Fleet Lady, by Avenue of Flags
3rd Dam: Dear Mimi, by Roberto
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (KY); T-Kiaran McLaughlin; J-William
Buick. $150,000. Lifetime Record: GISW-US, 14-4-6-1,
$2,212,800. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Gold City (Ire), 127, g, 7, Pivotal (GB)–Storm Lily, by Storm
Cat. O-Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Darley
(IRE); T-Satish Seemar. $50,000.
3–Faulkner (GB), 127, h, 6, Pivotal (GB)–Fibou, by Seeking the
Gold. O-Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Darley
(GB); T-Doug Watson. $25,000.
Margins: 5, 2 3/4, SHD.
Also Ran: Munaaser (GB), Prayer for Relief, Special Fighter (Ire), Layl, Mind That Boy (Ire), Elnaawi.
Click for the Racing Post result or the Frosted.pdf">free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
Frosted first inspired Classic aspirations when runner-up in a pair of key Kentucky Derby lead-ups–the GII Remsen S. as a 2-year-old and the GII Holy Bull S. last January–but those dreams appeared in jeopardy when the colt ran a flat fourth in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Getting blinkers for the first time for the GI Wood Memorial next out in April, Frosted turned the tables to win by two lengths and earn his ticket to the Run For The Roses. Left with too much to do on the first Saturday in May when as much as 12 lengths off the lead, Frosted closed resolutely to be fourth behind American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the Derby and was 5 1/2 lengths second to that rival–and one spot ahead of eventual GI Travers. winner Keen Ice (Curlin)–in the GI Belmont S. A half-length runner-up to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile victor Texas Red (Afleet Alex) in the GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga in August, team Frosted employed a change of tactics when sending him to challenge American Pharoah early in the Travers, but the grey had to settle for third behind Keen Ice and the Triple Crown winner. Getting back to the winner's circle at last in the GII Pennsylvania Derby in September, Frosted put in the flattest performance of his career in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic on Halloween, beating only Gleneagles home at Keeneland. Shipped to Dubai late last month for a campaign expected to culminate in the $10 million G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26, Frosted has remained under the care of U.S. trainer Kiaran McLaughlin while preparing at trainer Charlie Appleby's winter base, Marmoom Stables.
“It felt very impressive so I'm not surprised it was a new track record,” said Buick. “I was very pleased with the way we managed to do it. He had a very uninterrupted trip and it wasn't a hard race; it all went very smooth so it's a very nice stepping stone for him. He should have enjoyed that experience and he'll come on for it.” Buick added, “He gave me a very nice feel. He's been very well prepared by Kiaran and the team so I'm just very grateful to be on him.”
Frosted's dam, Fast Cookie–a half-sister to champion 2-year-old and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Midshipman (Unbridled's Song)–has a 2-year-old Bernardini filly named Apiary. She was barren last year after being bred to Tiznow and is carrying a full sibling to Frosted to foal this year.
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