Video Courtesy: Breeders’ Cup World Championships
BloodHorse
November 2, 2024
By: Sean Collins
Fifth in the 2022 edition of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Keeneland and third last year at Santa Anita Park, the third time proved the charm for Moira as the 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year broke through in the $2 million race Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
"I always say she's never got the respect she deserved," said her trainer Kevin Attard. "Today I think she solidified how good a horse she is."
Moira has pulled off a double that only two horses have done before: winning the Queen's Plate (now known as the King's Plate) and a Breeders' Cup event. The other two were 1991 Canadian Triple Crown winner Dance Smartly, who won the 1991 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), and Awesome Again, who won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
"She's just a great horse. She showed brilliance from the get-go," Attard said. "Her win in the Queen's Plate was so dominating against males, set a track record. Ironically enough, after that race she was kind of whispered or dubbed the next Dance Smartly."
The 1 3/8-mile race could not have set up more perfectly for the Ontario-bred daughter of Ghostzapper as she raced in midpack down the stretch the first time. Her Attard-trained stablemate Full Count Felicia , who had defeated Moira Sept. 14 in the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T), set the pace and posted fractions of :25.38, :49.84, and 1:15.08. Attard liked what he saw early from the eventual winner.
"Today, there was just something different about her," Attard said. "She was a lot more relaxed, a lot more settled. It was kind of eerie because I wasn't sure what direction it was going to go.
It went the right direction as she responded to Prat—fresh off his victory aboard Sierra Leone in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) one race earlier—inching her up on the backstretch to be in contention with the leaders entering the straight. Taking the lead with a furlong to go, Moira held off the late charges of runner-up Cinderella's Dream and third-place Didia , who finished a half-length behind with a nose separating them for second and third. Moira completed the distance in 2:14.95 and paid $13.60 to win.
"I don't even think as a kid I ever dreamt about winning a Breeders' Cup race," Attard said with emotion after the race. "Growing up in Canada, being based in Canada, my dream was to win the Queen's Plate. Moira did that for me. Today to win a Breeders' Cup—wow! I don't even know what to say, I don't think it's sunk in yet."
