Going for a Connaught Cup repeat

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Rahy's Attorney, last year's upset winner of the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, will try to capture the Grade 3, $150,000 Connaught Cup Stakes for the second year in a row on Sunday.

Rahy's Attorney garnered the 2008 Sovereign Award for champion turf male, and was also the runner-up in the voting for 2008 Canadian Horse of the Year. He won his first open stakes in last year's Connaught, but then went winless in his next three appearances.

In the Sept. 7 Woodbine Mile, Rahy's Attorney prevailed over Ventura after making an early bid for the lead on the turn under Slade Callaghan. He was awarded a 107 Beyer Speed Figure.

Rahy's Attorney was unplaced in a pair of Grade 1's in the fall, including in a $2 million event in Japan. He got the winter off, and trainer Ian Black had hoped to run him in an allowance on turf earlier this month, but the race failed to fill.

"He's a pretty fit horse, but he's got to carry 126 pounds against horses who were winter-raced," said Black. "He's in good order, and I think he'll move forward off it."

Black said his ultimate goal for Rahy's Attorney is the $1 million Woodbine Mile in September.

Society's Chairman, a late bloomer trained by Roger Attfield, finished a half-length back in second in last year's Connaught. He ran hot and cold last summer and fall, but has been a model of consistency this year.

Society's Chairman was second, beaten a neck, in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream in January, and then finished a close third after surrendering a clear lead in the stretch of the Tampa Bay Stakes in February. He nosed out Parading for the top spot in an allowance April 4 at Keeneland. Parading subsequently won the Grade 3 Ben Ali and the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico.

"He's been running well," said Attfield of Society's Chairman. "He probably should have won the race in Tampa."

Society's Chairman breezed five-eighths around the cones over the turf training course in 1:02.60 last Wednesday. "He worked nicely, and it looked like he came out of it okay," said Attfield.

Artic Cry, based at Churchill with trainer Eddie Kenneally, has improved dramatically with each start since coming to North America from France. Artic Cry won a $35,000 claimer and a second-level allowance in February at Gulfstream, and also ran second there in the Grade 3 Appleton Stakes in March.