After a pair of his two-year-old trainees nearly caught two-time stakes winner Be Vewy Vewy Quiet last time out, Sid Attard is hoping for better racing luck in an extended rematch on Saturday (December 9) in the $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes at Woodbine.
The Robert Tiller-trained Be Vewy Vewy Quiet is the probable favourite in Saturday’s 1-1/16 mile Kingarvie Stakes for Ontario-sired two-year-olds having earned Clarendon and Frost King stakes wins this meet, but Attard has solid contenders in Silent Sting and Royal Laser. Both colts were stakes-placed in the seven-furlong Frost King, with Silent Sting missing by just a head and Royal Laser finishing one length behind.
“They ran into some trouble,” said Attard, noting Silent Sting couldn’t get out in time in the Frost King and Royal Laser dropped back and was trailing at the three-eighths pole before closing with a rush. “They’re both very nice horses and I like my chances with both of them if things go right. You have to get a good trip, but they’re in good shape. They breezed good for the race and they’re doing very well.”
Jockey Luis Contreras will ride Stronach Stables’ Silent Sting (sired by Silent Name), who has finished no worse than second in his first three career starts. Meanwhile, Patrick Husbands picks up the mount on Royal Laser for Goldmart Farms and Royal Laser Racing. The son of Giant Gizmo won at first asking and finished fourth in the Bull Page Stakes prior to his Frost King placing.
Winning momentum
Following his first stakes victory of the meet in the Sir Barton courtesy of Kingsport last Saturday, Attard is hoping his winning momentum continues into the final weekend of the 2017 Thoroughbred meet. The Hall of Fame trainer has earned 38 wins at Woodbine this year, which places him among the top five in the trainer standings as of Friday afternoon.
“We didn’t have a bad year,” said Attard, who will head to Florida after the meet for the winter. “You always wish you did better, but that’s how it goes. And it’s not over yet. Hopefully we can win another one this weekend.”
The $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes is scheduled as the eighth race on Saturday’s 1 p.m. program. Here is a complete look at the field:
$125,000 Kingarvie Stakes
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1. Be Vewy Vewy Quiet – Rafael Hernandez – Robert Tiller
2. Beer Pressure – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Nicholas Gonzalez
3. Crumlin Night – David Moran – Michael Doyle
4. Handsome Like Me – Jesse Campbell – Nicholas Gonzalez
5. Cooler Mike – Eurico Rosa Da Silva – Nicholas Nosowenko
6. Absolution – Alan Garcia – Tony Gattellaro
7. Silent Sting – Luis Contreras – Sid Attard
8. Ginger Sky – Gary Boulanger – Francine Villeneuve
9. Royal Laser – Patrick Husbands – Sid Attard
10. Sheriff Clarke – Ismael Mosqueira – Dale Desruisseaux
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