Frost At Dawn has Breeders’ Cup as big end-of-season target

Frost At Dawn will be aimed at a range of major five-furlong sprints before another trip to Del Mar.

William Knight’s four-year-old missed out by just a neck in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Jim Goldie’s American Affair taking first prize in an incredibly tight finish.

The run was a return to five furlongs for the filly, and she is now set to remain at the minimum trip throughout the domestic season, after which she will set sail for another tilt at the Breeders’ Cup.

“She’s been given a King George entry for Goodwood and that’s the plan, then we’ll go for the Nunthorpe and then hopefully Del Mar on the turf is where we’ll end up,” said Knight.

“We’ve always held her in high regard and I think five furlongs is definitely the right trip, the visor has just helped her concentrate and travel. She’s looked a better filly this year and since we’ve put the visor on she’s put some really good performances together.

“I thought the stiff five furlongs at Ascot would really suit her, Jim’s horse ran an absolute blinder and we were probably beaten fair and square. It was a bittersweet feeling to go so close in a Group One, but coming second has still got to enhance her breeding value and that is important.”

Another horse of Knight’s to miss out at the meeting by a small margin was Holkham Bay, who was fourth in the Wokingham Stakes when just three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

He was drawn in stall 29 and mounted a late challenge down the inside, but found the line came just a fraction too soon for him to get his head in front.

“In probably another five or 10 yards he’d have been the winner, the draw didn’t help as he had to do it all by himself,” said Knight.

“If you were down the middle there you had the pace to aim at, but he loves it at Ascot.

“We’ll be trying to campaign him there throughout the rest of the year and he’s been given a Stewards’ Cup entry as well.

“There’s a five-furlong heritage handicap on July 12 and that’s what we’ll aim at for now.”