Broken Ice

That first win came at Sligo in September 2022, and it had been a long time coming. Gavin Cromwell, who trained him at the time, put it plainly: Broken Ice had been "banging on the door" and was simply due his moment. Cromwell also noted that he stays well over a distance and may even prefer wet or muddy ground — a horse that actually improves when conditions get difficult is a useful animal to have. The second win followed at Perth in August 2025, which means his most recent victory is now 11 months in the past.

Since then, the results have been tidy without being spectacular. His last six runs read 10-5-–-4-4-4, which means he has been finishing in the places consistently enough but has not been able to get his head in front. His most frequent jockey is Keith Donoghue, who has partnered him in 12 races and won just once together — roughly 1 in every 12 times. That is a workmanlike partnership rather than a magical one, but the horse keeps getting entered, which tells you the yard still sees something worth running.

McConnell's operation has been in decent form this season — 36 winners sent out is a solid total for a yard of their size. Broken Ice has raced just yesterday, so he is clearly fit and active. His record at the top level of racing is blank: five attempts at Class 1 or 2 races have produced nothing. He is, at heart, a lower-tier competitor who occasionally lands a blow and more often makes up the numbers with quiet reliability. For a horse of 10 with 45 races behind him, simply still being out there and competitive is its own kind of achievement.