Queen's Plate Update, Contenders For July 26

The dust has settled from the July 24 races at Woodbine, in particular the Plate Trial and Woodbine Oaks, and a clearer picture of the field for the August 21 Queen’s Plate, Canada’s most famous race, comes to light.

With Grade 3 Marine Stakes winner RONDURE waiting back at his barn, SIR FOR SURE and MOIRA joined him as leading contenders for the 1 1/4 mile Canadian classic, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, with victories in the Trial and Oaks respectively.

Moira (Ghostzapper) stole the show with her 10 3/4 length jaunt in the Oaks despite her usual feistiness in the walking ring that caused her to have two shoes removed before the race.

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Since the filly, owned by X-Men Racing, Madaket Stable and SF Bloodstock, was very fresh going to the Oaks, it is likely she will take on the boys in the Plate. You might see her saddle in the indoor saddling enclosure on the big day. Trainer Kevin Attard seeks his first Plate win.

Jockey Rafael Hernandez rides both Moira and Rondure, so he has an interesting choice to make.

The only other filly on CT’s list of Plate contenders is Oaks runner-up Sister Seagull, who rallied for second.

The Plate Trial was run one second slower than the Oaks with a slower early pace and 21-to-1 SIR FOR SURE (Sligo Bay (Ire)) rolled to victory by two lengths under Declan Carroll, his fifth different rider in his 5th career race. The Mark Casse trainee is forward moving and his sire was presented by Plate winner Lexie Lou.

Plate Trial favourite THE MINKSTER, who was quite rank under David Moran early in the race, had an excuse according to owner Ray Burke. The colt was suffering from heat exhaustion and emerged from the race with the ‘thumps’, a contraction of the diaphragm with the heart beat caused by overheating. The Coronation Futurity and Queenston winner deserves another chance in the Plate.

Tall and leggy HALL OF DREAMS continues to be a player with his stretch runs. He was bumped by Sir for Sure off the turn in the Trial and stayed on to be second while the pacesetter, CAUSIN’ MAYHEM, trained by Todd Pletcher, held third.

The most trouble in the Trial involved DUKE OF LOVE, the improving Josie Carroll trainee son of Cupid. Duke of Love was a bit headstrong early but settled on the rail in a stalking position, but had nowhere to go into the stretch. There was a narrow path offered when the field straightened out but it soon closed and jockey Justin Stein had to check the horse sharply. Once angled out, Duke of Love finished well to just miss third place.

DANCIN IN DA’NILE, razor-sharp in the walking ring, faded after pressing Causin’ Mayhem but seems to be better than that outing showed. LAC MACAZA had some mild run and was asked to gallop out strongly but he will need a hot pace to run at in the Plate.

Also waiting in the wings is IRONSTONE, the steel grey colt who is a front-runner and landed third in the Grade 3 Marine behind Rondure.

Other possible Plate entrants include Stronach Stables’ SHAMATEUR, a son of Plate winner Shaman Ghost, who ran well in his 2022 Woodbine return on the grass, earning an 80 Beyer Figure. The Sid Attard trainee won his maiden on Tapeta last year. Openwood Farms’ HUNT MASTER was recently a closing second against older horses in a 1 1/16 mile optional event and GIANT TEDDY, who would have to be supplemented to the race, won an optional in June with an 85 Beyer. He recently had to set a slow pace in the same race with Hunt Master and ended third.

(*Note – Interstatedaydream, the multiple graded stakes-winning filly in the US, would be on the list but she is not expected to be supplemented)