There are just 13 days to the 163rd Queen’s Plate and trainers and their staff are putting the finishing touches on their Canadian-bred 3-year-olds headed to the 1 1/4 mile classic on August 21. The $1 million Plate, at 1 1/4 miles on Tapeta, is the first jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, and Canadian Thoroughbred has a list of 11 possible entrants (not a final list).

The top three favourites, RONDURE, MOIRA and THE MINKSTER, stand out a bit from the other possible starters based on recent races and speed figures.

Some jockey engagements have been announced. Rondure, who won the Grade 3 Marine Stakes with an impressive 96 Beyer Speed Figure, will have US rider Flavian Prat on board. Prat won the 2019 Plate aboard One Bad Boy.

Rondure had a workout on Sunday morning, August 7, of 1:02.20, breezing easily under Ramiro Castillo. The Oxbow – Carat Weight (Trajectory) colt is owned and was bred by Borders Racing of Hazel Bennett and Harry Dobson and trained by Katerina Vassilieva.

Moira, the pick of jockey Rafael Hernandez, worked five furlongs on Friday, 1:01.60, her first prep since her giant win in the Woodbine Oaks, resulting in a 92 Beyer Figure. Trained by Kevin Attard for the X-Men syndicate (mostly Canadians) and US barns Madaket Racing and SF Bloodstock, Moira, bred by Adena Springs, is a daughter of Ghostzapper, sire of previous Plate winners Shaman Ghost (2015, ridden by Hernandez) and Holy Helena (2017).

The Minkster, trained by Dan Vella for Ray and Debbie Burke’s Sea Glass Stable, is looking to bounce back from his troubled outing in the Plate Trial when he was rank early and emerged from the race with heat prostration. The Minkster is a son of English Channel, sire of 2012 Plate winner Strait of Dover (also trained by Vella). David Moran rides The Minkster.

PLATE TRIAL winner SIR FOR SURE bounced back from his upset win for Rene and Darlene Hunderup with a sharp 47.60 breeze on Aug. 5 for four furlongs. The homebred son of Sligo Bay (Ire) is trained by Mark Casse, who won the Plate with Lexie Lou, also by Sligo Bay.

*One of the more interesting ‘longshots’ in the prospective field is DUKE OF LOVE (Cupid – Tell the Duchess by Smart Strike), trained by 2-time Plate winner Josie Carroll.  Duke of Love is owned by the MyRacehorse syndicate founded by Michael Behrens less than four years ago. MyRacehorse is a microshare syndicate offering anyone the chance to buy into racehorses at a very low cost. MyRacehorse had immediate success in 2020 when its Authentic, owned by Spendthrift Farm, won the Kentucky Derby (G1).

There are over 700 owners of Duke of Love including 20 Canadians. (Look for a more in-depth story on Duke of Love, his owners and breeders this week only on CanadianThoroughbred.com.)

Duke of Love’s troubled stretch run in the Plate Trial has been well documented. Top US rider Richard Migliore analyzed it recently on his Jockey Goggles show. The colt has two sprint wins and was second to Rondure in the Marine before his Plate Trial.

 

 

 

*More workouts – The tall, stretch-running HALL OF DREAMS (Lemon Drop Kid) worked on Aug. 5 in :50 for four furlongs. He was second in the Plate Trial for Gary Barber and partners, trainer Mark Casse. Joey Gee Thoroughbreds bred the chestnut gelding.

IRONSTONE has been training up to the Plate with trainer William Armata since he was  third in the Marine behind Rondure. This steel grey colt by Mr. Speaker had a blazing 6-furlong work on July 31 in 1:11 and came back on Sunday in 1:14.60 breezing. The speedy fellow was a $7,000 yearling purchase at the CTHS sale and he is owned by Tequesta Racing and Jupiter Leasing. Richard Day bred Ironstone.

CAUSIN MAYHEM, trained in the US by Todd Pletcher (won the Plate with Archers Bay, 1998) and third in the Plate Trial in his Woodbine debut, will have Antonio Gallardo riding on Plate day. This Into Mischief colt, bred and owned by Chiefswood Stable, led for a long time in the Trial.

Sam-Son Farms’ DANCIN IN DA’NILE worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Sunday and trainer Gail Cox told CT she was very pleased with the son of Pioneerof the Nile in that prep. The colt was fifth in the Trial after stalking and pressing the pace.

SHAMATEUR, a son of Plate winner Shaman Ghost, worked 5 furlongs on Sunday in 59.80 for trainer Sid Attard. The Stronach Stables colt was second in a turf race in his return to Woodbine on July 1 and he was 4th to The Minkster in the Coronation Futurity last year.

PLATE CONTENDERS, note, Jockey if available

1. Rondure- Marine Stakes winner, 96 Beyer Speed Figure – Flavian Prat

2. Moira – Woodbine Oaks romp, 92 Beyer Figure – Rafael Hernandez

3. The Minkster – won Queenston with an 86 Beyer – David Moran

4. Sir for Sure – Won Plate Trial, 83 Beyer – Declan Carroll

5. Duke of Love – troubled 4th in Plate Trial, 76, 2nd Marine, 86

6. Hall of Dreams, 2nd in Plate Trial – 79 Beyer

7. Ironstone – 3rd Marine Stakes, 86 Beyer Kazushi Kimura

8. Causin’ Mayhem – 3rd Trial, 76, maiden win, 84 – Antonio Gallardo

9. Dancin in Da’Nile – 5th Trial, 763rd in turf race, 84 Beyer,

10. Shamateur – 2nd turf optional, 80 Beyer

11. Sister Seagull – 2nd Oaks, 73 Beyer

12. *Giant Teddy – won optional, 85 Beyer, 3rd in optional 76 Beyer (would have to be supplemented)

13. Hunt Master – 2nd optional 78, won seven furlong optional, 71

14. Lac Macaza – 7th Plate Trial, 73

15. Hidden Honor – 5th Queenston Stakes

Tags: 163rd Queen's Plate, Moira, MyRacehorse, Rondure, The Minkster, Woodbine 2022,

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