Kevin Attard giving himself the best odds to win another King’s Plate
Kevin Attard has been a prominent figure in Canada’s biggest race for a few years now.
But now that he has finally tasted success, he is gunning for more.
The veteran trainer sent Moira to a dominant victory one year ago and, on Sunday, approximately 20 minutes before the King’s Plate, he’ll be the busiest guy at Woodbine as he sends four — perhaps even five — starters.
Moira became the 38th filly to win the Plate in its history and so it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Wickenheiser adds to that total.
Named for Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, the Canadian hockey legend who is now an assistant general manager with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid muscled her way back to the Plate discussion with a strong late close to finish second in the Woodbine Oaks on July 23.
She broke her maiden in her first outing last year and went on to a fifth-place finish in the Catch a Glimpse Stakes and fourth-place finishes in the Natalma and Princess Elizabeth Stakes. She was second in her return race this season before her Oaks effort. Attard co-owns Wickenheiser with Al and Bill Ulwelling and Clay Scherer.
“This filly has shown in her career she’s the ultimate competitor,” Attard said. “She’s been in every race over her career and her two efforts this year have been very encouraging.”
Moon Landing showed enough promise in his first start to try a couple of Kentucky Derby prep races at Turfway Park earlier this year. And though the efforts in the John Battaglia Memorial and Rushaway Stakes along with a poor run in the Queenston Stakes may have deterred Attard, an effort on July 23 where he was on the tail end of a three-horse win photo was encouraging.
“He really dug down deep in the late running and just missed getting it all,” Attard said. “We’re hoping that he is able to build off that race and show the type of skill that he does have.”
Velocitor showed his ability with a 21-1 upset win in the Coronation Futurity last fall. He was a non-factor in the King Corrie and the Marine Stakes, but checked in fourth at 45-1 in the Plate Trial and showed fight doing so.
“I thought it was a nice effort from a horse who has certainly shown he’s capable of running a big race,” Attard said.
Unfortunately, once again we must bring up that no Coronation winner has taken the Plate the following year since Norcliffe in 1976.
Philip My Dear has the most stakes experience in the field. He was Canada’s champion two-year-old off his wins in the Soaring Free and Cup and Saucer Stakes, both on turf. He was also third in both the Summer Stakes and the Coronation but comes into the race off an eighth-place run in the Queenston Stakes and a fifth in the Plate Trial.
“He’s had a tough start this year but I think he’s starting to round into the form that helped earn him a Sovereign (Award),” he said.
Should there be a scratch prior to Sunday, Enjoythesilent has first call to be Attard’s fifth starter. He has a record of one win in four starts, but has yet to compete in a stakes race.
LATE CHARGER
One runner has a chance to overcome a 50-1 morning-line and make some bettors really happy. Morstashy’s has only one win in 11 starts and was recently claimed for $40,000. But he does have a running style conducive to the 1¼-mile test.
“His closing speed would be his best attribute,” veteran trainer Renico Lafond said of his first Plate starter. “He’s not a big horse but he covers ground immensely.”
OFF THE BENCH
A morning training accident over the weekend sidelined jockey David Moran. So Adam Beschizza, an English-born rider who has been competing in the U.S. the past seven years, will come up to ride Midnight in Malibu for Attard’s uncle Sid.
The colt has run five times, winning twice including a nice score on July 23.
“I think he’ll go the distance no problem,” Sid Attard said. “Every time we work him, he gallops out strong.”
WAITING GAME
The other also-eligible, who needs two scratches to get in, is Runaway Charlie. The Mike Doyle trainee is winless in three starts thus far.
