Page 4 - November 2016 Thoroughbred Highlight

Something Fishy ‘bout Ratface Macdougall
According to trainer Angus Buntain, Ratface Macdougall was the most popular maiden on the racetrack, not for his ability, although he was
as an Assistant Trainer for John MacKenzie who trained Greenoaks Farm horses before Angus took the reigns as trainer himself two years ago.
always in the money, but because of his name.
Now that he has broken his maiden his notoriety has increased and a steady fan-base has blossomed.
Angus and his father, Derek, were on a shing trip in Prince Edward Island when the rst foal out of their mare, Plantana, by Trajectory was an unnamed yearling. An offering
of shing ies were on display at a local tackle shop and after pointing to a y of particular interest the shopkeep responded with, “Oh....that’s a Ratface Macdougall.” Father and son looked at each other and smiled.
Derek Buntain has been racing both Standardbred and Thoroughbred horses for 50 years under the stable name Greenoaks Farm. He purchased
his rst Thoroughbred
in 1966, Radiant Colors,
with trainer J.C. Meyers
at Woodbine. About a
decade later he began
breeding horses to race.
Currently Plantana is
his only Thoroughbred
broodmare along with
two Standardbred mares
including his Maritime
Champion mare,
Malabrigo, who has two
Somebeachsomewhere foals in Prince Edward Island.
Angus grew up around horses at the Standardbred racetrack in PEI with both his grandfather and father owning and racing horses throughout his entire life. He had always wanted to become a trainer. Angus completed the necessary testing and began working
Angus currently has ve horses in training
at Woodbine including, Nupogodi, by Kentucky Bear, a half brother to Ratface Macdougall.
His name is based on
Nu Pogodi, a popular Russian cartoon in the early 1970’s. Translated it means “Well, just you wait!” and Angus is eager to run the two year-old who he says may just be faster than his speedy sibling.
Another homebred, Gazcader, also the name of a shing y, is out of the Buntain’s Real Quiet Mare, Chelopech, who sadly passed away after giving birth to this now three-year-old son of March eld. Chelopech was named after one
of the world’s largest goldmines located in
the So a Province in Bulgaria. Gazcader broke his maiden on October
26 and came back off
that win to nish a closing third going all out in the stretch on November 12 at Woodbine.
Rounding out the stable are maiden 4 year-old lly Wild and Con dent (Judith’s Wild Rush - Cruising Executive, by Bold Executive) who began racing this year
Trainer Angus Buntain & Groom Gail Cheyne with 3 year-old gelding Ratface Macdougall at Woodbine
Jockey Gerry Olguin, Angus and his 11 year-old daughter, Libby, pose with her “rat” mascot in the Woodbine winner’s circle after Ratface Macdougall’s maiden win September 17.
Thoroughbred Highlight - Page 4 - November 2016
An actual
Ratface Macdougall shing y.
Video on how the Ratface Macdougall y is made
and 4 year-old gelding, War Executive, who was claimed on September 2 at Woodbine.
“Racing is serious enough,” commented Angus when asked about coming up with names for horses, “You may as well have some fun.”
Michael Burns Photography Photo