Coach Kevin Attard has been probably the most profitable trainers in Canadian racing during the last decade, however one of many bins on his résumé stays unchecked: a Breeders’ Cup victory.
Searching for attaining that purpose, he enters a robust duo in Moira and Full Rely Felicia within the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).
Moira has been the steady darling during the last three seasons. In 2022, she introduced Attard his first of two victories in Canada’s greatest 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 12 months.
Venturing out of Canada for the primary time in her profession that fall, she ran a good 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 mentioned it was a efficiency he hopes she’ll repeat.
“She’s a really particular horse for me,” Attard mentioned. “My first Queen’s Plate winner again residence, Horse of the 12 months. To see her proceed on and change into one of many prime North American turf fillies is unimaginable.”Join BloodHorse Each day
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 doubtless 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 purpose, she’s been unlucky to not win a grade 1 but,” Attard mentioned. “It will 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 discipline in what’s going to doubtless be her closing race, is her plush canine that sits rather than her jolly ball.
Photograph: Sean CollinsMoira and her stuffed canine on the Breeders’ Cup
“It is just a bit companion,” Attard mentioned of the toy. “She generally will get a bit of excitable and this sort of retains her calm and quiet.”
Attard has been attempting to show Gold Sq.’s Full Rely Felicia to have that calm and quiet gene since becoming a member of his barn this spring.Â
“When she first received to us, she was very aggressive early within the mornings,” Attard mentioned. “We have labored on attempting to get her to settle within the morning. I believe she has responded properly to that.”
A two-time winner, each graded stakes, in three begins for Attard, the 5-year-old Struggle Entrance  mare’s eagerness was on show once more Oct. 30 as she galloped round Del Mar.
Photograph: Skip DicksteinFull Rely Felicia gallops at Del Mar
Full Rely 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 operating 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 Rely Felicia may by no means be reeled in and hit the wire 3 1/2 lengths forward of Moira and 2023 Canadian Horse of the 12 months Fev Rover .
“I do not suppose she received revered sufficient by all the opposite riders within the race,” Attard mentioned. “She simply confirmed how succesful and the standard of a horse that she is. In the event that they have been to let that occur on Saturday, they may have a tough time catching her once more.”
That being mentioned, the sport plan is not going to 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 mentioned 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 discipline on Saturday. Fortunately, she’s coaching very properly, 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 Rely Felicia will deal with the added distance. Each have received at 1 1/4Â miles.
