It has been fairly a journey for coach Kevin Attard and Moira. The heralded filly earned Attard his first King’s Plate win in 2022 en path to being named Canada’s horse of the yr.
It has been fairly a journey for coach Kevin Attard and Moira.
The heralded filly earned Attard his first King’s Plate win in 2022 en path to being named Canada’s horse of the yr. After ending fifth within the ’22 Breeders Cup Filly & Mare race, Moira ended final season by taking third within the occasion at Santa Anita.
The third time was the attraction Saturday at Del Mar as Moira, with Flavien Prat aboard, held off favorite Cinderella’s Dream for the stirring half-length victory for house owners Madaket Stables LLC, SF Racing LLC and X-Males Racing. The Ontario-bred five-year-old additionally secured the affable Attard, 47, his first Breeders’ Cup triumph.
However the elation was short-lived as Moira was bought at public sale Monday evening for US$4.3 million. As an alternative of profitable races, the expectation now’s Moira shall be referred to as upon to provide the following line of champion thoroughbreds.
“It has been a whirlwind of feelings, that is for certain,” Attard mentioned. “Being a Canadian racing at Woodbine, the aim was all the time to win the King’s Plate, one thing that is additionally exhausting to do and has eluded among the nice Canadian trainers we’ve.
“Now I can say she’s additionally gained a Breeders’ Cup race, which to be fairly sincere was one thing I by no means dreamt of rising up, it was by no means on my radar. Fortunately for me, she got here into my life and achieved that (Plate win) and extra.”
Moira grew to become the seventh Canadian-bred horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race however first since Good Shirl in 2011. Moira can be simply the third Plate champion to seek out the Breeders’ Cup winner’s circle, becoming a member of Dance Well (1991, Distaff) and Superior Once more (1998, Traditional).
Whereas Attard knew what was finally forward for Moira, his focus was fully on her pre-race preparation. However the harsh actuality of the scenario hit Attard on Saturday.
“We took her out to the monitor Saturday morning to provide her just a little jog,” Attard mentioned. “Strolling on the market I type of choked up just a little bit as a result of I knew that was the final time the tack was occurring her for me.
“However, once more, we knew we had an enormous day forward of us and we had been attempting to remain within the zone and preserve targeted. After the race, although, you get again to the barn and she or he’s there and you recognize it is the final time you are going to be holding her out on the grass and issues like that. It actually begins to sink in.”
Attard additionally felt Moira sensed one thing was up.
“For some purpose, she acted in another way Saturday,” he mentioned. “Her manner was just a little completely different, she wasn’t her typical eccentric self in a way.
“I believed, ‘That is going to go one in every of two instructions: Actually good or actually unhealthy with nothing in between.’ Thankfully, she’s smarter than me, she knew what she was doing and obtained the job carried out.”
Moira did that always. She completed within the cash in 15-of-17 profession begins (seven wins, six seconds, twice third) and earned over US$2.99 million.
“She was so constant and by no means actually ran a foul race,” Attard mentioned. “Every time we despatched her on the market she gave it her finest and in any sport, with people or in horse racing, that is not straightforward to do.
“Horses have unhealthy days as effectively and it is a testomony to her within the sense that she got here to play each time and that is all you possibly can ask for. Clearly, I believe she has cemented herself as among the finest Canadian racehorses . . . I believe she has confirmed time and time once more she will compete with the perfect and has by no means been disgraced. She’s a really particular horse.”
Attard mentioned he is aware of little about Moira’s new possession.
“I do know they’re primarily based in Australia and have extra of a European base as effectively,” he mentioned. “It seems like she could also be travelling once more, which is just a little exhausting as a result of she’s just a little additional and out of the way in which to go to.
“However undoubtedly sooner or later I’ll need to see her once more.”
Attard has no doubts relating to what sort of mom Moira shall be.
“She’ll be an amazing mother as a result of she’s such an amazing horse, I believe she’s going to be a really protecting mom,” he mentioned. “If she passes on the center she has to her foals, they’ll be excellent racehorses.
“It is undoubtedly not straightforward but it surely’s part of the enterprise. I suppose it is the equal to gamers getting traded and having to maneuver their households and uproot every part. Perhaps as you do it extra usually you get used to it or it will get just a little simpler to deal with, I do not know. However I am certain going to overlook her, little doubt.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Nov. 5, 2024.
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
