Moira sells for $4.3 million at Fasig-Tipton November sale

Moira sold for $4.3 million on Monday night at the Fasig-Tipton November sale, two days after winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar, certainly a popular victory on both sides of the border.

The 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year, Moira became the seventh Canadian-bred to win a Breeders’ Cup race and the first since Wavell Avenue in 2015. Her victory also is the third by a Queen’s/King’s Plate winner, joining Dance Smartly (1991, Distaff) and Awesome Again (1998, Classic) as the only horses to have won at both events.

Moira is widely regarded as front-runner for the Eclipse Award as champion turf female. Due an insufficient number of starts in Canada this year, the 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare is ineligible for any divisional Sovereign Awards.

Attard, 47, was winning his first Breeders’ Cup event after five previous tries, including two with Moira. He should finally land his first Sovereign for outstanding trainer this year, an award Mark Casse has won in each of the last 13 years.

“I don’t even think as a kid I ever dreamt about winning a Breeders’ Cup race,” Attard said post-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."

Woodbine CEO Michael Copeland praised Moira and her connections on Monday.

“This is a huge accomplishment in Canadian horse racing history,” Copeland said. “We’ve been fortunate to watch Moira’s development and success right in front of us at Woodbine. To Moira and her connections, including our very own Kevin Attard, Woodbine could not be more proud of your monumental victory.”

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