Attard notches 2,000th training victory

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Sid Attard had a big weekend at Woodbine, recording his 2,000th training victory in North America on Sunday when Lady of Moray won the ninth race on the card.

Of those 2,000 wins, 103 have been stakes victories. Attard’s most recent stakes win came July 8 in the Shepperton Stakes, when Kingsport upset Pink Lloyd to snap the Canadian Horse of the Year’s 11-race win streak.

Prior to the 6 1/2-furlong Shepperton, Kingsport had made his last three starts around two turns, including a fourth-place finish in the Steady Growth Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on June 16. Despite the cutback in distance, Kingsport closed strongly down the stretch to win the Shepperton for the second time. He previously won the race back in 2016.

“It doesn’t matter where you run him,” Attard said. “Two turns or short, he’ll do anything, this horse. Whatever you find, you’ve got to run. You don’t find races any time you want.”

Attard said he would like to keep Kingsport in restricted company. Unlike Pink Lloyd, Kingsport is not nominated to next weekend’s Grade 3 Vigil Stakes, which means he may not run again until Canadian Millions Sales Stakes Day on Aug. 29.

With his versatility, Kingsport could run in either the $100,000 Kenora Stakes over six furlongs, or the $100,000 Elgin Stakes over 1 1/16 miles. Of his six stakes wins, three have come in route races, and three have come in sprints.