'He was so popular and really was the people's horse' - Frodon owner reflects on star chaser's career upon retirement

Owner Paul Vogt described Frodon as “the people’s horse” when reflecting on his popular chaser’s career following the 11-year-old’s retirement on Friday.

Frodon finished fifth in Tuesday’s Ladbrokes King George VI Chase – a race he won in 2020 when making all under Bryony Frost – and will now be looked after by his regular race-rider on Exmoor alongside former stablemate Black Corton.

His other top-level victories came in the Ryanair Chase in 2019 and the Down Royal Champion Chase in 2021, finishing in the first three in 33 of his 52 starts including 19 wins.

Vogt, who owned Frodon with Ian Fogg for a year before becoming his outright owner in 2017, said: “We were planning on retiring him this season and the timing is right. He went out on a really good note and gave a wonderful round of jumping at Kempton.

“He’s been a brilliant racehorse and we’ll never find another like him. He had so much heart and ability and was a fabulous jumper.

“It’s very nice Bryony is going to have him and she’s going to do all sorts with him, including some showjumping, to keep him busy and amused.

“Bryony and Frodon made each other and they had such a great rapport. We kept Bryony on him after she’d lost her claim; she was very loyal to us and we were very loyal to her.”

Frodon: his final win came in the Badger Beer at Wincanton in 2022Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Frodon’s final victory came in the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton last year when he carried 12st to success in front of a raucous local following.

Vogt believes Frodon’s never-say-die attitude, along with his excellent jumping, gained him many fans.

He said: “I wonder whether I really appreciated at the time just how popular he was. I know how popular he was now with the benefit of hindsight, but when you are tied up yourself in watching him race, you’re not really looking at the atmosphere from the crowd.

“The roof nearly came off the stand when he won the Badger Beer at Wincanton but I was just so chuffed with the way he had run and rushed back to the winner’s enclosure without taking it all in. He was so popular – he really was the people’s horse.

“He wouldn’t let horses go past him. If he was in the lead at the final fence, he was going to win the race and his courage aided his popularity.”

Frodon and Bryony Frost (right) on the way to winning the King George VI Chase in 2020Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Frodon’s King George VI Chase success came during pandemic restrictions, with the race taking place without a crowd, and Vogt picked out three other races as among his most memorable.

“The Down Royal win was the most pleasing – to go and win on their turf is always very satisfactory – along with the Ryanair,” said Vogt. “The King George was an odd one as there were only three men and a dog there as it was during the pandemic. Bryony was waving to the non-existent crowd, which was quite funny.

“There was no atmosphere and it was a bit flat in a way despite being a great day. I enjoyed his Oaksey Chase win at Sandown – it might not have been a Grade 1 but he really battled well that day.”

Frodon was a six-time winner from 16 starts at Cheltenham and finished in the first three on 20 of the 30 times he was ridden by Frost, winning 11 races. Sam Twiston-Davies, Sean Bowen and Harry Cobden were other jockeys to win on Frodon after he joined Paul Nicholls as a juvenile hurdler in 2015.

Nicholls, who announced Frodon’s retirement in his Betfair Ditcheat Diary, said: “He’s been a fantastic horse and won so many different races for us. He’s been an amazing servant and he will have a wonderful home down on Exmoor. I’m sure Bryony will have a lot of fun with him.”

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