Speaking exclusively to BOYLESPORTS, King George-winning jockey Bryony Frost has opened up on her move to France over a year ago and the reasons that pushed her to leave Britain behind.
The rider who guided Frodon to victory in the 2020 King George VI Chase at Kempton is now the retained jockey in France for prominent owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede (Double Green colours).
In this exclusive interview, Frost reflects on the warmer British support she still receives across the Channel, why she chose her new role over a Grand National ride, the opportunities for female jockeys in France, and why despite building a happy life there she will never fully rule out riding again for the people she loves back home.
Missing The Roar
The British Crowd
The crowds. The atmosphere and the buzz and the enthusiasm that they can bring to a moment for you is insane, and the love that they share with you is fantastic. Unfortunately, they don't have that here. They have it a little bit, but nowhere near the level of England and Ireland.
But the amount of English people that I have seen on the racetrack that have come to watch and combined it with a bit of a getaway holiday is amazing. I hear, ‘B, B! We’ve come to watch you race and have a little bit of a getaway.’
I'm starting to be supported from owners from England as well, which is amazing. They can see that out here, you can have the best of both worlds.
Choosing Team Over Dream Ride
Giving Up Grand National Ride
I had some very important rides for Double Greens coming up, and I had a bad fall, so I couldn't take the chance in the Grand National and not be there for my team.
My bosses knew that that was the case. I had this small niggle that I had from the bad fall, and I was on the brink. If I had taken a hit, I definitely would not have been able to ride my very good horses the week afterwards.
So I had to pump the brake so I can be there for them 110%. It was a no-brainer for me. Double Greens are priority and my future.
Why I Had To Leave Britain
Flat Racing In France
There are more female jockeys on the Flat, especially with the two kilos [weight allowance] - that's a mega play.
There’s a good handful of us over the jumps. I've ridden a little bit on the Flat, actually, because I found myself a lot lighter than I was in the UK.
So, I could have a few spins at the 60-62 kgs mark. The changing rooms are good, and at the Paris tracks, the girls even have their own valet on the Flat. So that shows you how busy they are.
Female Jockey “Leg-Up”
I don’t think it matters who you are or what you classify yourself as. It’s the support of the people behind you. You could be the world's best jockey, but if you haven't got somebody supporting you, then it's not going to happen. It really is that simple.
It's about those very important moments in your career where somebody offers you the opportunity, and then it's up to you to make that opportunity happen, and that's it. You have to work hard as well. I haven't got to where I am without working hard.
I'm lucky, of course. I have years and years of experience behind me from my family, and I've been able to learn quickly. And that for me is one of my biggest leg-ups. You just have to work very hard, and you have to be given the opportunity. Someone has to believe in you along the road, like anything, I suppose.
Leaving Britain
You go through life, and you go through things for a reason. I stood up for the fact that racing had no code of conduct at that point, and it needed to be noticed.
Without going too far into it, I kept myself in England long enough to show that you can go through it. You can have a lot of people turn their backs on you for whatever their reasons.
My thinking was that you must love the moment you're in - and I wasn't. So, I needed to change.
Next Moves
Don’t Rule Out A Home Return
You have got to follow your heart. Sure, it was a big, scary thing to up sticks and come to France. I said to myself, ‘Well, if it all goes wrong, I can go back to show jumping or go and be a cowgirl in America.’ Horses take you anywhere in the world.
The one thing that you can guarantee, I'm not plotting a route, but I can guarantee you there’ll always be a horse in my life, whatever I do, wherever I go, I'll have a horse next to me.
Before everything happened, France was always an interest of mine because of the jumping and the strategy and the rhythm and everything like that. I always had a little bit of an eye to it. I thought, France, you know, it's an avenue, and I never closed the door on it.
When it came to the point of moving, there was no real thinking about it. I didn't really tell anybody. I pushed hard for another year, and I got some amazing winners, and then I got to the point, and I went, ‘Yeah, now’s the time.’
It wasn't just for the summer or short term. The chapter had turned. I told the trainers that I worked for, and I told my closest owners what I was going to do. A good handful of them were really upset that they were going to lose me. But it was a moment that needed to happen.
So away I went, I packed my life into my car and got on the boat.When the word got out a little bit, that's when Simon and Isaac gave me the call. Daryl Jacob was actually the one who started quizzing me a little bit. He asked me if I was definitely going.
So, within a couple of days, I got the retainer job with Double Greens, which very much put the cat amongst the pigeons! France is where I am at now. I do come back [to Britain], I rode for Saeed Bin Suroor at Ascot and really enjoyed that, then I rode one for Rebecca Curtis and my Dad the day before in the bumper, who ran really nicely.
I come back and ride for the people whom I love to ride for. I think Suroor is really taking an interest in these bigger meetings with a few of his horses, and I enjoy dropping in and riding around the tracks, and that's so comfortable for me, you know. So, you never say no. A few of my old owners asked me to come back and ride a few of their horses. So, if I'm not out here for Double Green, then yes, I'll drop aback in.
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