Pumpkin Rumble going for repeat in closing-day Valedictory Stakes at 1 3/4 miles

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Kevin Attard has already set a new career high with eight stakes victories at Woodbine this season and he will look to add one more to his tally when he sends out Pumpkin Rumble and Sir Sahib in Sunday’s closing-day feature, the Grade 3, $125,000 Valedictory Stakes over 1 3/4 miles on Tapeta.

Sixteen races are carded Sunday. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Attard has won the Valedictory twice before, first in 2015 with Melmich and then last season with Pumpkin Rumble, who hasn’t raced since he was fifth in the Grade 1 Canadian International on Oct. 12. Attard had hoped to run Pumpkin Rumble in an allowance over 1 1/2 miles on Nov. 24 but that race did not fill.

“I’m a little disappointed that the prep didn’t fill for Pumpkin Rumble,” Attard said. “He hasn’t run since the International. I was hoping to get a little confidence-booster into him. He’s had kind of a tough, interrupted schedule this year, trying to find the right races. But he’s training well, so hopefully he’ll come up with a good performance.”

Sir Sahib, meanwhile, is coming into the Valedictory after back-to-back fifth-place finishes. Earlier this season he finished second in the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes and third in the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes, both on turf.

“Sir Sahib’s last race was better than it looks on paper,” Attard said. “He had a troubled trip, and closed well. It was a solid race. The distance shouldn’t be an issue for him. He’s run twice now on synthetic, and handled it well both times. I’m expecting a good performance.”

Pumpkin Rumble and Sir Sahib both breezed five furlongs on Dec. 8 in preparation for this start.

“I thought they both worked well,” Attard said. “They’re both heading into the race in good shape.”

Key Contenders

Pumpkin Rumble, by English Channel

Last 3 Beyers: 95-90-88

◗ Pumpkin Rumble will be piloted by Eurico Da Silva in what will be the final stakes race of Da Silva’s career before his retirement following the Sunday card. “As for Eurico retiring and being on him for this race, it is a bit symbolic,” Attard said. “The Valedictory being our final stakes of the season and a marathon race, if he could possibly win – how great of a farewell and fitting end to a great career he’s had.”

Sir Sahib, by Fort Larned

Last 3 Beyers: 78-69-90

◗ Sir Sahib won earlier this season on synthetic off an extended layoff. His only other start on synthetic was a troubled fifth-place finish in a second-level allowance on Nov. 10.

Surprise Twist, by Elusive Quality

Last 3 Beyers: 92-90-90

◗ He finished second as the favorite over the jumps in the New Jersey Hunt Cup Stakes going 1 1/2 miles at Far Hills. He’s been working on Tapeta at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland ahead of this start for trainer Arnaud Delacour, who’s 4 for 9 at the Woodbine meet.

Fearsome, by Makfi

◗ He won the New Jersey Hunt Cup in his North American debut last time out on Oct. 19. He has extensive long-distance racing experience over synthetic surfaces in England, winning several handicap events over 1 1/2 miles.