Frontiersman third at Newbury

Frontiersman came home third in the G3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes over an extended mile and five furlongs at Newbury, UK, on Saturday, August 19. 

The four-year-old colt, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by Jim Crowley, was held up in sixth of the eight runners initially before moving up to fourth with seven furlongs left. 

He travelled strongly into the race and moved up to hit the front passing the two-furlong pole but was headed by Defoe soon afterwards. 

Frontiersman was passed by Wall Of Fire entering the final furlong and kept on at the same pace to go down by four and a quarter lengths to Defoe, who won in 2m 51.50s on ground described as soft, good to soft in places.

Charlie Appleby commented: “I am putting Frontiersman’s performance down to the ground, while it also looked like he potentially wants further than today’s trip. 

“He travelled nicely into the race but the first two have quickened away, whereas Frontiersman has just kept galloping. 

“I would like to get him back on a sound surface and it wouldn’t worry me stepping up in distance.”