Frozen Rope Fan Club

Trainer Adam Duggan is confident Frozen Rope has the hallmarks of a quality stayer and he hopes to test that theory in the Become A Sponsor Hcp (1500m) at Rosehill this Saturday.

The King Of Prussia gelding’s biggest asset is his turn of foot and he has used it to establish an almost 50% winning strike rate, and a few overseas fans.  “I think his next two runs will tell the tale,” Duggan said.  “If he’s got this turn of foot he’s got now at the 2000 metres, that’s when I can probably start mapping out something for him.”

Frozen Rope has won up to 2100m at the provincials but Duggan has had little opportunity to test him further.  Immature early in his career, he spent eight months on the sidelines last year due to a leg injury but the extended break might just prove a career turning point.

The gelding returned to the stable 60kg heavier and while he shed some of that, the rest has remained as extra muscle and bulk.  “It was an enforced lay-off which has probably been the making of him,” Duggan said.  “He furnished into a lovely big horse.  He always had the frame but he’s really filled his frame out now.”

Frozen Rope (5g King Of Prussia – Timor Flyer by Azzaam) unleashed his trademark acceleration to win first-up at Wyong last month under 61kg and just missed when second at Rosehill on New Year’s Day.

While he still ranks in the category of up-and-coming galloper, his international fan club is growing.  The horse is raced by a bunch of mates, most of whom are childhood friends of Duggan and Frozen Rope’s regular rider Josh Parr.

Parr’s brother-in-law, Hong Kong-based jockey Tim Clark, has also become close to the group and, apart from regularly tweeting his support for the horse, often wears one of their specially made Frozen Rope hats.

His sire King Of Prussia stands at Greta West Stud in Victoria for a $2,750 (inc gst) service fee.  He has sired 110 winners of 331 races at a 58% strike-rate.