Easy Win for Frosted in First Meydan Start
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Photo: Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins
Frosted runs away from the field in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2.
Making his 4-year-old debut, Godolphin Racing's Frosted took an impressive step toward his early spring goal Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) when he overwhelmed eight rivals to win the $250,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Sponsored by EGA (UAE-II) Thursday, Feb. 4 at Meydan Racecourse.
While Frosted had not raced since finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Oct. 31 at Keeneland, he settled perfectly early in the 1,900-meter (1 3/16-mile) test, tracking second behind slow pacesetter Munaaser through a half-mile in about 50 seconds.
Entering the stretch jockey William Buick sent Frosted after the leader and Munaaser bore out, forcing Frosted to move wider. But the son of Tapit quickly adjusted and then opened a clear lead in the field of nine. Frosted cruised to the wire, scoring about a five-length victory over Gold City. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to third, where Faulkner (GB) edged Munaaser (GB) by a short head.
With his winning effort in 1:56.67 on the fast track, Frosted lowered the track record by more than a second. Frankyfourfingers set the previous record last year of 1:58.24.
The victory gives trainer Kiaran McLaughlin his second big victory with a son of Tapit in five days. McLaughlin sent out Shadwell Stable's Mohaymen to an easy victory in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park as he further stamped his status as a top 2016 classic contender.
Frosted, who finished second to American Pharoah in last year's Belmont Stakes Presented by DraftKings (gr. I) and fourth to the Triple Crown winner in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), registered big wins before and after the classics, taking the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) in April at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) in September at Parx Racing.
While Frosted races for Godolphin, he had raced exclusively in the U.S. until Thursday's score. He is working toward a start in the March 26 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).
Rounding out Thursday's race were Prayer for Relief in fifth, Special Fighter sixth, Layl seventh, Mind That Boy eighth, and Elnaawi ninth.