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Trainer Roger Attfield, with eight Queen's Plate wins, is tied with Harry Giddings Jr. for most visits to the winner's circle in the "Gallop for the Guineas" and the conditioner is hopeful that Colleen's Sailor can break the deadlock. "It would mean a whole lot," Attfield said of the opportunity to hold the record outright. "I hold the record for (winning) the most Prince of Wales (in the Triple Crown era) and the Breeders' (Stakes) and I've equaled the one for the Queen's Plate. I've won three Triple Crowns, which is a record also, so this would put the icing on the cake and make me champion of all of it." The conditioner started the year without a proper Plate contender before Colleen's Sailor shipped into his stable from the care of trainer Brian Lynch. "All I had were maidens," Attfield explained. "He ran twice as a two-year-old going two turns which really helps going into a three-year-old year. Brian Lynch had the horse at that time and treated him the right way and he arrived a nice, sound horse. I think he's a horse that has improved as he ages and I'm pleased with him right now." |
Attfield had to change jockey for his Plate starter after John Velazquez broke his collarbone in a spill at Churchill Downs Saturday night. Corey Nakatani, who guided Colleen's Sailor to his last-out win, will get the return call on the bay son of Northern Afleet.
A duo that enjoyed Queen's Plate success one year apart will unite in the 153rd Queen's Plate as jockey Steven Bahen and trainer Mike Keogh look to Ultimate Destiny to deliver them another memorable score in Sunday's 1 1/4-mile classic.
Bahen, who engineered one of the biggest upsets in Plate history when he partnered 82-1 T J's Lucky Moon to glory in 2002, will ride the son of Dance for Destiny for Keogh, who campaigned Wando to victories in the 2003 Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales and Breeders' Stakes, sweeping the Triple Crown in impressive fashion.
This time, Keogh, who also won the 1999 Plate with Woodcarver, has a gelding that has never finished lower than fourth in six career outings.
"He's a bit of a slow learner, it just takes him time to catch on to things," Keogh offered of the chestnut owned by Brenda Karen Selwyn-Waxman. "I gave him the nickname 'Goofy Dewfey' last year. That's what he is, a big, goofy fellow. But, he's also a horse that will give everything he has."
Ultimate Destiny comes into the $1 million contest off a smart second-place performance at 1 1/16 miles on May 23.
In other news, the annual Queen's Plate BBQ is set for Monday in the Woodbine walking ring. A parade of several of the starters for Sunday's 153rd edition of the Queen's Plate is set to kick off at noon.
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