Coach Kevin Attard has been probably the most profitable trainers in Canadian racing during the last decade, however one of many containers on his résumé stays unchecked: a Breeders’ Cup victory.
Looking for attaining that purpose, he enters a robust duo in Moira and Full Depend Felicia within the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).
Moira has been the secure darling during the last three seasons. In 2022, she introduced Attard his first of two victories in Canada’s largest race: the King’s Plate Stakes—generally known as the Queen’s Plate for Moira’s victory. She was topped Canada’s 2022 Horse of the Yr.
Venturing out of Canada for the primary time in her profession that fall, she ran a decent fifth within the Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland. In her 9 begins since then, she’s by no means completed off the board. In 2023, she once more contested the Filly and Mare Turf and completed better of the North American-based runners when third crushed simply 1 1/4 lengths by Inspiral . Attard stated it was a efficiency he hopes she’ll repeat.
“She’s a really particular horse for me,” Attard stated. “My first Queen’s Plate winner again house, Horse of the Yr. To see her proceed on and change into one of many prime North American turf fillies is unimaginable.”
Entered in Fasig-Tipton’s The November Sale Nov. 4 by homeowners Madaket Stables, SF Racing, and X-Males Racing, her third try within the Filly and Mare Turf will probably be her closing begin; giving the 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper one final probability to earn an elusive grade 1 victory. She has positioned in every of her final 4 grade 1 makes an attempt.
“For some cause, she’s been unlucky to not win a grade 1 but,” Attard stated. “It could be good to see her cap it off with a grade 1 within the Breeders’ Cup.”
Alongside for emotional assist as Moira once more faces the tall problem of a high-quality worldwide area in what’s going to probably be her closing race, is her plush canine that sits instead of her jolly ball.
Moira and her stuffed canine on the Breeders’ Cup
“It is just a bit companion,” Attard stated of the toy. “She typically will get slightly excitable and this sort of retains her calm and quiet.”
Attard has been attempting to show Gold Sq.’s Full Depend Felicia to have that calm and quiet gene since becoming a member of his barn this spring.
“When she first obtained to us, she was very aggressive early within the mornings,” Attard stated. “We have labored on attempting to get her to settle within the morning. I feel she has responded nicely to that.”
A two-time winner, each graded stakes, in three begins for Attard, the 5-year-old Warfare Entrance mare’s eagerness was on show once more Oct. 30 as she galloped round Del Mar.
Full Depend Felicia gallops at Del Mar
Full Depend Felicia upended stablemate Moira’s most up-to-date bid at getting her first grade 1 as she stole the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) by working away with the lead early. Credited by Equibase charts with a 19-length lead after the opening six furlongs within the 1 1/4-mile race at Woodbine, Full Depend Felicia might by no means be reeled in and hit the wire 3 1/2 lengths forward of Moira and 2023 Canadian Horse of the Yr Fev Rover .
“I do not assume she obtained revered sufficient by all the opposite riders within the race,” Attard stated. “She simply confirmed how succesful and the standard of a horse that she is. In the event that they had been to let that occur on Saturday, they could have a tough time catching her once more.”
That being stated, the sport plan won’t embody a 19-length lead at any level within the race as she tacks on an additional furlong in distance.
“That was very sudden,” Attard stated of the big lead within the E. P. Taylor. “We weren’t anticipating that, we by no means deliberate that out. It labored for that day, however clearly it is a completely different kind of area on Saturday. Fortunately, she’s coaching very nicely, she’s coming into the race in good order, and her confidence is excessive.”
With each racing 1 3/8 miles for the primary time, Attard stays assured that Moira and Full Depend Felicia will deal with the added distance. Each have received at 1 1/4 miles.
