Horse Profile: Frost at Dawn

Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Scouting Report

(Editor's note: Originally published in the 2024 BRISnet Breeders' Cup International Report)

Although Frost at Dawn’s career highlight is a course record-setting coup in the Nad al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3) over Star of Mystery (Turf Sprint), the William Knight sophomore has acted on dirt and all-weather as well. 

Rabbah Bloodstock’s homebred has versatile influences throughout her pedigree. She’s by Frosted and out of a War Front mare from the family of turf champion Leroidesanimaux, runner-up as the favorite in the 2005 Mile.

Frost at Dawn broke her maiden at this seven-furlong distance over Chelmsford’s Polytrack last fall and headed to Dubai for the winter. At Meydan, she made a pleasing dirt debut over the same trip, setting the pace and succumbing only to future UAE Oaks (G3) winner Manama Gold. Frost at Dawn was beaten much further by Manama Gold in a conditions race at a metric mile, and she accordingly has stuck to sprinting.

Switching to the Meydan turf for another seven-furlong conditions race, Frost at Dawn was third to Godolphin’s Filly & Mare Turf contenders Cinderella’s Dream and Beautiful Love. A week later, she cut back to about six furlongs versus the boys and just missed in second, edging Starlust (Turf Sprint).

Frost at Dawn shortened up to about five furlongs and stunned Star of Mystery in the Nad al Sheba Turf Sprint in a course-record :55.41. Always prominent on the far side, and capitalizing on the big weight concession from the older males, the 33-1 longshot scampered to a 2 1/2-length decision. 

Regressing to 10th behind California Spangle and Star of Mystery in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on World Cup night, Frost at Dawn filled the same spot behind Bradsell (Turf Sprint) in her British comeback in the Nunthorpe (G1). But she’s been rounding into form since, with a useful third in a listed stakes at Ayr and a rattling fifth in the Franklin (G2) at Keeneland, where she raced farther back early in first-time blinkers.

Frost at Dawn would need to find more stepping back up in class and distance here, and the Turf Sprint was her first preference at the pre-entry stage. But she has all sorts of form through other Breeders’ Cup contenders, and the triple-surface performer will have Frankie Dettori in her corner.