Rahy's Attorney looks like the one

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Rahy's Attorney, the runner-up in the voting for 2008 Canadian Horse of the Year, is having a championship-type season, and is only a head away from being unbeaten this year. He should be favored in Sunday's $250,000 Sky Classic Stakes, and there's no reason to believe that he won't run another corker in the Grade 2 turf event at Woodbine.

Rahy's Attorney led until deep stretch before getting nailed on the wire in his season opener, the Grade 3 Connaught Cup Stakes, in which Sterwins lowered the 1 1/16-mile course record. Next time out in the Grade 3 King Edward Handicap, Rahy's Attorney made all the running and defeated Sterwins, getting a Beyer Speed Figure of 106.

Most recently, Rahy's Attorney encountered soft turf when he stretched out a furlong to 1 1/4 miles in the . He stalked French Beret in the early going before taking control, and then coasted home on top by 1 3/4 lengths under Slade Callaghan.

The course was labeled yielding when Rahy's Attorney won last year's Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, and trainer Ian Black felt the gelding was capable of handling the going in the Nijinsky.

"The way I looked at it going in, if there was any doubt about him going a mile and a quarter, the soft turf was going to test it," said Black. "We suspected that one of the two Sam-Son Farm horses was going to go, and [Rahy's Attorney] doesn't have to be on the lead. Slade sat off [French Beret], and let [Rahy's Attorney] run around the turn."

Black said the 1 3/8-mile Sky Classic will be Rahy's Attorney's final prep for the Sept. 20 Woodbine Mile.

"I'd rather run here and then shorten him up, rather than shorten him up for the Play the King Stakes and go that way," Black explained.

Marchfield and Champs Elysees finished second and third in the Nijinsky.

Marchfield, a long-distance expert trained by Mark Casse, has been campaigned primarily on synthetic surfaces since his victory in the 2007 Breeders' Stakes.

Casse also entered the former California runner Medjool, and Woodbourne.

"I put Woodbourne in to make sure there's some speed in the race," said Casse.

Champs Elysees won the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes here last September. He had been idle for three months heading into the Nijinsky, and was beaten 7 1/2 lengths.