Page 19 - October 2008 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Ontario-bred, Rahy’s Attorney wins Woodbine Mile
The Game, October 2008 19
Ontario-bred Rahy’s Attorney, ridden by Slade Callaghan, scored a shocking upset in the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine
OUTSIDE THE BORDERS by Nigel Griffiths.
Michael Burns Photo courtesy of WEG
Puss N Boots Splash at Fort Erie
Nine year-old gelding Sandspit was the winner of the Puss N Boots Stakes at Fort Erie on holiday Monday, Sept. 1. Bred by Lynne Hindmarsh, the son of Sandpit
is owned and trained by Anthony Alderson and was ridden to victory by Jockey Eldridge Lindsay who took the traditional plunge into the in eld pond (photo right). Photos by Michael Burns Photography
European Update for the International
Following on with the Breeders prep theme, Kempton have announced plans in conjunction with Churchill Downs to stage a 1m 1f Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes on March 18th. The race will carry a purse of C$160,000 and a C$200,000 bonus if the horse competes in the Stateside event with the winner automatically gaining a place in the big race.
While on the topic of St. Legers, Sir Michael Stoute, after many years in the training game, nally added his name to the race when Conduit took this historic race by a comfortable three lengths.
Mile, September 7 at Woodbine.
Duke of Marmalade captured his fth Group One of the season by taking the Juddmonte International, a race that was rescheduled to Newmar- ket from a washed out York. The son of Danehill sidestepped the Cham- pion Stakes at Leopardstown due to the ground and now has Longchamp on the agenda followed by a ight to California. His trainer Aiden O’Brien won all of the Irish Classics for 2008 as he continues to add Group One after Group One win to his tally this season.
strong possibility that he can improve again on the tremendous progress he showed last year. The Tingle Creek on December 6th is expected to be his de- but race of the season, with the defense of his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown the obvious target next March.
Trained by Ian Black, Rahy’s Attorney, unbeaten in three career starts at one mile on the grass, kept his streak intact remarkably by tak- ing one of the most prestigious turf races on the continent.
The Dubai Carnival will have some changes for 2009 with a number of upgraded races along with a couple of new races. A stayers race returns in the form of the DRC Gold Cup over 2m and the Meyan Classic for 3 yo’s over 71⁄2f, both will be on a turf surface.
The four-year-old son of Crown Attorney is co-owned by breeder Ellie Boje Farm, Mitch Peters, Dean Read and Jim and Jean MacLellan,
Also of interest are the efforts by new All Weather tracks Great Leighs and in Ireland Dundalk to cater for those heading over to the Breeders Cup. Both have put on trials for Santa Anita hopefuls and Great Leighs even put in a request to the racing authori- ties for permission to have an Ameri- can-style starting bell, which is always absent in UK racing.
Ballydoyle have a couple of smart stayers in the classy Yeats and his young protégé Septimus. Yeats has won both the Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup, while Septimus won the Irish St. Leger with ease. The latter now sits as the nicely weighted favou- rite for the Melbourne Cup.
Did You Know....
That Ellie-Boje Farm was the Thoroughbred Times Breeder of the Week August 31 to September 8 following Rahy’s Attorney’s win in the G1 $1,000,000 Woodbine Mile. The purse earnings of $620,644 elevated the Ontario farm to top status in North America for the week.
Rahy’s Attorney is one of two winners from four starters out of the winning Rahy mare Rahy’s Hope, who was purchased by Ellie-Boje for $7,500 at the 2002 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.
The speculation as to who would ride Denman in the Hennessy, Sam Thomas who won both the Hennessy last year followed by the Gold Cup or stable jockey Ruby Walsh, may well be a little premature as it has been announced that the horse will miss the race due to an irregular heartbeat.
In India the smart stayer Arabian Knight, trained by J.S Dhariwal won the prestigious Gr1 President of India Gold Cup in record time, adding that to wins in The Stayers Cup and the Bangalore St. Leger this season.
H H Aga Khan owned and bred lly, Zarkava. Unbeaten in all six career starts, four at Gr1 level, she entered the 12f Prix Vermeille with a question mark as to whether she’d stay the trip. After making a real horlicks of the start and immediately left six lengths, she was still last of the twelve horse eld turning into the straight and it was testament to her outstanding abil- ity that she effortlessly moved up to challenge and quickly picked up at the furlong and a half pole to win eased down. She’s now around a 7/4 chance, 2’s on the Exchanges and every right to be, but the one niggling doubt is that she has yet to encounter the boys. That said, she wouldn’t be the rst gal to win the big race and she’s de nitely good enough.
Arabian Group One on Arc Day
Purebred Arabian horses will race in the Group One Qatar Arabian World Cup on Arc day at Longchamp this year, for a purse C$528,150. An agreement was reached by the French racing authorities France-Galop and the Arc sponsors, The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, to hold four races for purebred Arabian horses, including one on Arc day as part of a ve year deal. The Arc will now become the richest turf race in the world and the Arabian Gold Cup the richest Arabian race.
With the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe unfortunately on the same weekend as our International meeting, the race has found itself a strong favourite in the
There is expected to be a strong presence from Europe for the Pattison Canadian International. Quijano has stayed here since the
Northern Dancer Stakes,
but the question has to be
asked, will he be doing all
his best work at the end.
Lightly raced Lauro showed use-
ful form as a 3yo, beating subsequent Arc winner Rail Link and can run well
Doctor Dino is a genu- ine Group One performer and like Quijano a regular world traveler. He has
the nod over the German raider on Hong Kong form, will handle the trip and any ground so has to be respected.
Frozen Fire is expected to run, he never red in the nal 2f of the St. Leger last time out, but this son of Montjeu does have a bit of class.
Staying with the same stable, one stocked full to the brim with jumping talent, a word about Master Minded. Now the highest rated jumper in the country, he has returned to the yard after his summer off much bigger and stronger than last year and there is a
By Nigel Griffiths
“He’s been very lethargic,” said trainer Paul Nicholls, so we had him examined today by our vet.” The con- clusion was an irregular heartbeat and the horse will have treatment before
an expected return to training and a Christmas seasonal debut. Not the sort of news the ante post market wanted as he is presently standing at around even money favourite for a repeat Gold Cup win next March.
Quijano in the morning at Woodbine
fresh.
The Irish Derby winner
Mourilyan has changed ownership while in Dubai and ran a nice prep while with Gary Moore for Herman J Brown on Kempton’s (UK) polytrack earlier in the month. Whether he’s good enough remains to be seen.
This daughter of Dansili was bought by Gary A Tanaka after the Beverly D from the well-known European owner Mar- quesa De Moratalla and will be ridden by Garrett Gomez on the big day.
Lucarno has bits of top class form and win in the St. Leger to his name. The long Woodbine stretch will hold
no fears for him, but he has question to answer and will be up against it with the likes of Quijano and Doctor Dino.
Icon Project may come, but this maiden winner has a bit to prove at this level.
Michael Burns Photo
Toque de Queda is expected to run for trainer Mikel Del- zangles and this improving lly has a live chance. The long Woodbine stretch should play to her strengths and the trip is just what she needs.
Santiago Atitlan, by Stravinsky has been working as a training partner
to Quijano and takes his turn in the Neartic.
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