Frost taken aback by King George reaction

Jockey broke new ground on Boxing Day.

Bryony Frost has been overwhelmed by the response to her victory aboard Frodon in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The 25-year-old wrote her name into the record books after becoming the first female jockey to win the Grade One contest following a fine front-running performance from both horse and rider.

Having had little time to come to terms with what she has achieved, Frost, whose victory was watched by 1.4 million people on ITV Racing, claims she is still taking everything in.

Frost said: “I woke up this morning and my first thoughts were ‘crikey, I’ve won the King George’. My world for the last 24 hours has been completely turned upside down with the amount of ‘well dones’ and love being sent the whole team’s way. It’s just epic.

“I think they said 1.4 million people viewed it. You can’t even comprehend that in your head – how people would have seen him and how epic he is. It’s a pretty cool thing and I don’t think it will ever sink in.

“(While I was) trying to keep up with my phone, I burnt my pizza last night! I managed to get a free coffee from the garage on the way home as I was chatting to the guy behind the till and he saw it. I got a free vanilla latte, which I was chuffed to bits with!”

With Kempton currently under Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, only a handful of people were able to witness Frost and Frodon’s moment of glory on the track.

Bryony Frost gets a hug from trainer Paul Nicholls after Frodon's King George success
Bryony Frost gets a hug from trainer Paul Nicholls after Frodon’s King George success (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

However, she hopes plenty of noise was made in homes across the country in the absence of spectators.

“It’s afterwards (you realise). It’s gutting not to have the sports fans here shouting you in, giving you high-fives and a thumbs-up and things like that. I sure hope that in everyone’s living rooms or kitchens or wherever they were watching from, the roofs were coming off the houses instead of the roof here at Kempton,” Frost said.

“I talked to Paul (Nicholls) and he said there is nothing quite like the King George when all the spectators are here and they are always raising the roof for the King George winner.”

Plenty have praised Frost for her heroics in the saddle, but not every response to her landmark win has been positive.

She said: “The more success you have, the more people will frown at you as well as smile with you, so you have to accept it all.

“I’m very lucky I’ve got a supportive team and family around me and I’m starting to build that bubble in tight.

“I will never change myself because of what some opinions are, as that is not what you are supposed to do.

“As you grow up, you have to remain yourself and that’s the important thing.”

Making headlines is something Frost has made a habit out of throughout her career, but she still counts herself lucky to be in the position she is in.

A delighted Bryony Frost after riding Frodon to win the King George
A delighted Bryony Frost after riding Frodon to win the King George (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“As a kid my imagination was always running wild with the maybes, but after I started point-to-pointing, I realised how tough it is without support,” Frost added.

“I just think don’t look up too high, but keep focused on where you are at, making the best of things and surround yourself with the best people to be the best.

“My dad (Jimmy Frost) and my brother are the biggest people I admire and Ruby (Walsh) in his finesse of riding and his balance. I used to watch Ruby win the King George and that to me was mega with Paul’s team. Then to be associated with Paul and get my first couple of rides for him was great.”

Riding notable winners is nothing new to Frost, having also become the first woman to ride a Grade One winner over jumps at the Cheltenham Festival aboard Frodon in last year’s Ryanair Chase.

However, she feels her King George success may be her biggest achievement yet.

She said: “If you give me a month, I would probably be able to weigh up the two. They mean similar, yet are so different at the same time.

“It’s hard to judge. It would be like having two dogs or cats at home and trying to weigh them up, I guess.

“Yesterday, when it does sink in, we might just realise what we have achieved.”

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Kempton Paul Nicholls Frodon King George Vi Chase

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