Third Group 1 success for Frosted

Frosted followed up winning the Metropolitan Handicap by 14 lengths with another easy G1 victory in the US$1.25 million Whitney Stakes over nine furlongs on dirt at Saratoga, USA, on Saturday, August 6.

The four-year-old Tapit colt led early, was briefly headed but soon went to the front again under Joel Rosario.

He did the first quarter-mile in 23.11s, the half-mile in 46.42s and six furlongs in 1m 9.65s and was cruising turning in.

Joel Rosario did not move until the furlong-pole and then only had to use hands and heels as Frosted ran on well to triumph in excellent style by two lengths from Comfort. The winning time was a fast 1m 47.77s.

His trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said: "Frosted is a very nice horse and versatile from a mile to a mile and a half. We are just fortunate and happy to have him in the barn.

"Frosted is right up there at the top - Invasor was the best we ever had but Frosted is creeping up. If he could just go and win the Breeders' Cup or the Dubai World Cup he would be right there with Invasor or pass him.

"The options now are the Woodward (G1, 9f, Saratoga, September 3), the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1, 10f, Belmont Park, October 8) and the Breeders' Cup (Classic, G1, 10f, Santa Anita, November 5). We discuss all this and figure it out.

"Joel gets along with Frosted so well and I knew he had to have a lot of horse to be where he was. I thought it was a little fast but I was confident in Joel.

"Frosted may have bounced but he bounced to the winner's circle!

"It is great to win such an important race here at Saratoga with so many of the Godolphin team here."

Joel Rosario commented: "He was cooking. I knew Frosted probably went a little too fast - more than normal. I was cruising the whole way, he was very relaxed, and I just tried to save something for the end.

"When I turned for home, I knew I had something left because I know the way he likes to run."