Juvenile stakes racing returns this weekend in Sydney and Melbourne and first season sires are well represented so let’s take a look at their chances of success with one of the most interesting sires to watch this weekend being Frosted (USA).
The list above shows all the runners on Saturday for first season sires and while we well expect to see horses such as Capitalist, Extreme Choice, Flying Artie, Shalaa (IRE) and Star Turn (his runner Astrologer is a dual acceptor in Sydney and Brisbane) ready to make their mark early, less expected is the appearance of Frosted, who has two runners for Godolphin in the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial(1000m) at Flemington.
He’s already had a runner here with another Godolphin homebred The Globe finishing third at Flemington last month in the VRC Darley Spring 2YO Preview.
A triple Group I winner from 1600 to 1800m by champion US sire Tapit, Frosted was an outstanding racehorse that also chased American Pharoah home for second in the Group I Belmont Stakes over 2400m.
He was not a sprinter and only won one of four starts at two and that race was a maiden over a mile, so to see him have three runners in the first two year old races of the season here is going to make a few people sit up and take notice.
James Cummings has a positive assessment for both Frosted two year-olds in Cloudy and Ingratiating.
Cloudy is a half-sister to two minor winners from Applegate, a juvenile stakes-winner by Exceed and Excel.
“She got back in her jump-out, ran on strongly and showed a bit of X-factor,” Cummings said.
“We think the straight track will suit her well as she sits off horses with ease.”
Ingratiating is a half-brother to three winners from Group II winning Lonhro mare Obsequious.
“He is another promising Frosted two-year-old that is showing nice precocity,” said Cummings.
“He could well be the one to show up from our trio on feedback alone.
“The colt is strong, eager to gallop and very capable in everything we have asked of him now.”
Frosted only had 65 foals in his first crop here so probably does not have the numbers to challenge for leading first season sire by winners, but he could well make his presence felt.
Frosted has already sired six first crop winners in the US this year including exciting filly Travel Column, who was a TDN Rising Star when winning on debut at Churchill Downs. She runs in the Group I Alcibiades Stakes on Friday at Keeneland.
Frosted is back at Darley Victoria this spring at a fee of $22,000, which might look value in hindsight.
