Page 25 - The Game July 2006

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, July 2006 25
2006 Queen’s Plate Barbeque - June 19
Assistant Trainer Leroy Trotman and Groom Melanie Minshull with Queen’s Plate runner Atlas Shrugs
Ascot Bill is a gelded son of Vicar - Ascot Gold, by Mutakddim. (left) Trainer Steve Attard, Groom Monica Knowland (right of horse), Jockey Justin Stein and Owner/Breeder Les Pereira of Beclawat Stable with his granddaughter Breanna whose namesake, Sweet Breanna, finished second in this year’s Labatt Woodbine Oaks.
John Pepper is flanked by his wife Krista (left) and Janis Maine, wife of trainer Reade Baker. John in partnership with C.R. “Bud” Roberts are the owners of the Reade Baker trained, Atlas Shrugs.
Left to right - Handler, Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson, Groom Emmanuel Reid-Oxley and Trainer David Bell with the Eugene Melnyk owned and bred, Bridgecut
(Silver Deputy - Brittons Hill, by Gulch).
Owner Bruno Schickedanz (left) along with groom Abraham Siddo (right of horse), Trainer Abraham Katryan and Jockey Richard Dos Ramos and connections with the Mike & Wendy Parkin bred, Cifercat (Ciano Cat - Shawl Dance, by Our Native).
Photo Right - left to right - Jockey Jim McAleney, Handler, Trainer David Bell, Groom John McTague and Hugh Graham with the D. Morgan Firestone owned Thinking Out Loud
(Regal Classic - An Og’gotaway, by Ogygian) bred by Bernard & Karen McCormack.
Photo Left -
Left to Right - Handler David Ward, Jockey Dino Luciani,Trainer Mike DePaulo, Handler, Susan (hidden) and David James (owner) and Groom Josie DePaulo with Shillelagh Slew (Chief Seattle - Frippalina, by Theatrical (IRE)).
Edenwold Takes It!
How gender, hair dye and small-town Saskatchewan were the stories at the 147th Queen’s Plate
He’s a bit of a complex little kid and I hope I can pick his personality as much as I can from now until the Queen’s Plate.”
Jim McAleney was thinking out loud that Thinking Out Loud would finally put him in the Plate winner’s circle.
“If we make the major focus the last quarter of mile, he has the talent to step up and get it done,” explained Jimmy Mac, “He’s alert and ready and looking forward to it.”
Dino Luciani was the rider on Shillelagh Slew and had nothing but praise for the lightly raced grandson of Seattle Slew.
“He’s a great horse and I’ve been on
him for every one of his starts,” said Luciani, “Mile and quarter not a problem - we’re hoping.”
Stakes maestro Todd Kabel was guiding the Stronach Stables’ Malakoff and would not concede that his horse was inferior to the favourite Wanna Runner.
“My horse is coming into the race good and the barn is hot.” he said persuasively, “I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. Wanna runner? He’s a very tough horse and Bob Baffert wouldn’t be bringing him in for nothing. But we’re on home territory and my horse loves this course.”
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By Peter Gross
In the first 146 editions of the Queen’s Plate, there is not one documented example of a trainer, owner or jockey predicting, before the mile and a quarter classic, that their horse didn’t have a chance. There was no deviation from that theme this year either. At the Plate Barbecue six days in advance of Canada’s most revered race, several jockeys were oozing confidence.
“He’s done well up until now.” smiled Corey Fraser about the Reade Baker trained Atlas Shrugs, “Reade’s done an excellent job and I’m very happy to ride him in the plate.”
When I suggested to Emma-Jayne Wilson that Bridgecut, her first Queen’s Plate ride would be a longshot, she fired off a chirpy cliché,
“The only way to win it is be in it,” she told me, “I breezed him in his final prep.