Page 12 - November 2008 The Game

12 The Game, November 2008 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Kevin Attard Going Public in ‘09 Season
Kevin Attard with a Knob Hill owned unnamed two year-old lly by Kinshasa
Woodford Racing Dispersal
Woodford Racing, LLC will sell all 14 of the remaining four-year-olds at the Keeneland November Sale on November 3 - 17, 2008.
By Dave Catsimbras
such as: 1993’s Champion Older Male Horse, Cozzene’s Prince, with who Kevin traveled to Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong; Kirby’s Song, winner of the ’98 Woodbine Oaks and the Monmouth Breeders’ Cup Oaks (Gr.II) in New Jersey, with Kevin overseeing her training on the road; and the Adena Springs owned, Milwaukee Brew, winner of the 2000 Ohio Derby (Gr.II) in Cleveland.
As the end of the 2008 thorough- bred season draws near, trainer Kevin Attard has announced that he will become a public trainer for the remainder of the season and throughout 2009, after being the conditioner for the notable Knob Hill Stable since 2006.
Included in the sale is:
An accomplished young trainer, Kevin is also a college graduate
with a diploma in accounting and comes from a very prominent family in the horse racing business. He has been involved with thoroughbred racing since he was a child and has traveled around North America and Hong Kong working with horses.
2008 has been another successful season with Kevin overcoming the challenges of losing horses through injury, claims and sales.
Kevin began his training career for the Adena out t in 2001 conditioning El Soprano to a win in the Summer Stakes (Gr.III) at Woodbine with Hall of Fame Jockey Gary Stevens aboard. “Good horses tend to teach you a
lot, you experience things that you wouldn’t normally with average hors- es,” says Kevin, “You learn from the travel, meeting top vets, blacksmiths, jocks and other trainers and those things combined have helped develop me into the trainer I am today.”
SPRUNG won the Grade 3 Natalma S. at two and has earned $274,145.
She made six starts this year winning $116,280. SPRUNG was fourth to Dreaming of Anna in the Grade 3 Mint Julep S. at Churchill in June, was sec- ond in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly S. in July, and most recently, was fourth by a length to Saskawea in the $100,000 Avowal S. on September 27. SPRUNG should make another start before the sale.
The 32 year-old, Toronto native, has gained plenty of experience and has found himself in the lime-light
of Canada’s top races during his time with Knob Hill Stable. In 2006, Kevin trained the undefeated, Sovereign Award winning two year-old colt of the year, Leonnatus Anteas, winner of the Coronation Futurity at Woodbine that year.
The talented Nicki Knew, multiple stakes placed winner of the Bison City Stakes and Bucephalus, winner of the Clarendon Stakes have contributed to his 41.9 in-the-money percentage so far this season.
Hip 815, QUIET ACTION, f. Forest Wildcat--Whispered Wishes / Sell- ing Wed. Nov. 5. QUIET ACTION won the $150,000 Ontario Damsel S. and was second by a 3/4 length in the Grade 3 Natalma S. She has won or placed in ve stakes and earned over $270,000. She is also looking to race prior to the sale.
Kevin had his most successful season as a conditioner in 2007 over- seeing the stable to thirteen winners
in eighty tries with a in-the-money percentage of 36% and purse earnings that would exceed $900,000.
Kevin’s decision to go public in 2009 does not mean he will be leaving Knob Hill Stable, “The stable is going through a transitional period right now and they’re looking at quality rather than quantity. They’ve allowed me to open up the stable and take on other horses.”
His keen sense of the game has made him a well-rounded and well-respected individual. “He’s very smart, and I have a great deal of respect for Kevin.” says Assistant Trainer Alfredo Ramos, “I have worked with him since our days with Tino and Kevin can work with any kind of horse and be success- ful, cheap ones to the best, he does a good job and I’m not just saying that
The majority of his success was with Alezzandro, winner of the clas- sic Prince of Wales Stakes, Canada’s second leg in the Triple Crown on
his way to being crowned Champion Three-Year-Old Colt. Other mention- able moments from ‘07 include wins in the Durham Cup (Leonnatus An- teas), the Zadracarta Stakes and the La Prevoyante Stakes, both with the three year-old lly, Siwa.
Before beginning his career as a trainer, Kevin worked as an assistant for his father, long-time conditioner Tino Attard. Over the years Kevin has acquired plenty of knowledge and ex- perience in the barn of talented horses
‘cause he’s my boss.”
Hip 4983, APPROVAL RATING, c, Lemon Drop Kid--Classic Approval
/ Selling Sat. Nov. 15. APPROVAL RATING won the $125,000 Victoria Park S. at 1 1/8 miles on the Polytrack. He has earned $192,715 in ten starts. He is looking to make his rst start since April before he sells.
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When asked about his time with Knob Hill Stable, Kevin graciously responds, “My experience has been great, they are good people to work for and they allow me to work with their horses at my own pace.”
Kevin combines his experience with an “old school” trainer with the “new school” training tactics of today, which is a valuable asset for a conditioner. He loves to develop horses to their full potential working with both young to the older horses.
Hip 4979, LEGAL MOVE, c. Bold Executive--Charity Country / Selling Sat. Nov. 15 . LEGAL MOVE most re- cently ran fth by 2 3/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Phoenix S. at Keeneland. He has won nine races and placed in seven others in 22 career starts for earnings in excess of $738,000. He is currently pointed for the Kennedy Road Prep before shipping to Keeneland.
Hip 197, SPRUNG, f. Grand Slam-- Springhurst / Selling Mon. Nov. 3
Other four-year-olds to be sold and their selling date are:
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Hip 3203, ROYAL STAND, f. Depu- ty Minister--Brittsker / Tues. Nov. 11
Hip 3226, SIMPLY STYLISH, f. Stormy Atlantic--Ruby Shoes / Tues. Nov. 11
Hip 4084, TRIVIA GAME, f. Smart Strike--Bold Mist / Thurs. Nov. 13
Hip 4799, RIGHT NOTE, f. Point Given--Gregorian Chance / Nov 15
Hip 4811, SANIBEL, f. Ecton Park-- Summer Storm / Sat., Nov. 15
Hip 4984, CAPTAIN CUGAT, g. King Cugat--Watch Rachel / Nov. 15
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Hip 5703, KING’S LAW, g. Lemon Drop Kid--La Sila / Mon. Nov. 17
Hip 5704, MARKET GAIN, g. Pure Prize--Melisma / Mon. Nov. 17
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