Frost taken aback by reaction to King George success on Frodon
Br yony 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 frontrunning 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 prett y 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! 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 with!"
With Kempton in Tier 4, only a handful of people were able to witness Frost and Frodon's moment of glory.
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 thumbsup 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, you have to accept it.
"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.
"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 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.”