It doesn’t take long to hear it in Hall of Fame conditioner Roger Attfield’s voice, a tone that exudes pride in Musketier (Ger), a hard-knocking turf veteran who has crossed swords with talent on both sides of the Atlantic.
Last year, as a nine-year-old, Musketier, a Germanbred son of Acatenango, contested nine races, five in the United States and four in Canada, more specifically, Woodbine. The well-travelled horse reached the winner’s circle on three occasions, including a second consecutive victory in the Grade II Elkhorn and a season-ending score in the W.L. McKnight at Calder, his sixth lifetime graded victory. He was rewarded with the most voting points for Canada’s Champion Turf Male.
For Attfield, it was a further reminder of why he has such an affinity for Musketier. “I’ll tell you this,” said Attfield, with a slight pause. “He’s been a real challenge and a real pleasure over his career. He’s defied the odds. I love the horse.”
There are plenty of reasons why he would.
Musketier didn’t find himself too far back in his career debut, three-quarters of a length, over one mile on what was termed “good/soft” going at Deauville, France, in August of 2004. Next time out, however, he broke his maiden in style, winning by six lengths at the same distance on the same course.
Yet it hasn’t always been an ideal life for the 10-time winner from 45 starts. Various ailments over his career, including missing 15 months after his strong performance over the Aqueduct turf in his North American racing debut in 2007, have seen him in and out of action on several occasions.
Time off, however, has never seemed to sap Musketier of his competitive nature, as exemplified when he finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Ghost Hour in his return to the racetrack, onFebruary 28, 2009, at Gulfstream Park. “He’s got some idiosyncrasies and some problems like myself,” quipped Attfield. “If you look after them and keep them happy, they give it back to you. He’s just a great guy. We’re both grey, I know that.”
Musketier was also out of action from early October of 2009 after finishing sixth over “soft” Belmont turf, then returned on the Keeneland grass for the Grade II Elkhorn Stakes on April 23, 2010. Once again displaying his savvy, he was victorious, via a 1 _-length score.
Kicking off his 2011 campaign, Musketier took to the Gulfstream turf on February 11, in the Grade II Mac Diarmida, finishing a strong third. After a runner-up finish to retired Canadian champion, Rahy’s Attorney, in the Grade III Pan American on March 26, the Stella Perdomo colour-bearer won the Elkhorn over “yielding” turf on April 29.
After a fifth in the Grade III Louisville Handicap on May 28, he took the Singspiel Stakes at Woodbine for the second time (he also won the 2009 edition) on June 26. “He’s a grand old horse,” said Attfield, in the aftermath of his latest Singspiel triumph. “He didn’t really get to run the trip we’d like him to run. I like him to be covered up a little bit. Johnny (jockey Velazquez) couldn’t get him covered up, I could see that. Johnny is a very smart rider and he knows how long this stretch is here. He moved a little bit earlier than he wanted to, but he took hold of him a little bit longer so he had some left for the last bit. He did a great job.”
Although his next three races didn’t yield the desire results (fifth, fifth and sixth in the Grade I Pattison Canadian International on October 16), that old grey magic was back in the W.L. McKnight. Sent off at 9-2, Musketier found the winning seam along the hedge over the turf, besting stablemate Simmard by a half-length to reach double digits in victories.
While Simmard turned the tables in taking the 2012 edition of the Mac Diarmida (Musketier was third), it didn’t diminish Attfield’s fondness for the horse that reached $1-million in purse earnings after his most recent performance.
“He’s a little bit claustrophobic when he’s in his stall,” noted Attfield. “That’s why we keep him outside as much as we can. He has a little teddy bear that he travels with and he seems to like that. There’s so much to like about him. He’s a trier and even when he’s down, he never seems to be out.”
