South African champ the cream of Canadian Stakes
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – It is highly appropriate that South African native Ryan Munger, now a Woodbine regular, is riding the South African champion Gimme a Nother in Sunday’s Canadian Stakes for fillies and mares. She merits top billing in the 1 1/8-mile event, which is one of two Grade 2 turf stakes on the Woodbine Oaks card, along with the $175,000 Connaught Cup.
Gimme a Nother was unbeaten in seven starts in her native land, from October 2023 to April 2024. Among her two Group 1 victories was a 4 1/2-length score over about 1 1/8 miles in the South Africa Fillies Classic.
Off an 11-month layoff, Gimme a Nother made her first start for trainer Graham Motion on March 8 at Tampa, finishing second in the Grade 2 Hillsborough. She ran second again at Churchill May 2 behind divisional leader She Feels Pretty in the Grade 3 Modesty.
Gimme a Nother struggled over soggy ground most recently on June 6 when a wide seventh in the Grade 1 New York at Saratoga.
“Last time, it was extremely soft and I don’t think she cared for it at all,” Motion said. “I think she’ll handle some ground with some give in it, but I do put it down as an excuse for her last performance. It’s the only bad race she’s ever run.
“I thought both of her previous starts were really good. I think the mile and an eighth is good for her. Hopefully, we’re avoiding those guys in New York.”
In her first race with Lasix, Motion believes that Gimme a Nother should be suited to a one-turn route over Woodbine’s roomy main course, which encircles the main track.
“I think this type of track is probably a little bit more what she’s used to in South Africa,” Motion explained. “We’ve got your local South African jockey riding her. Every bit helps, the familiarity.”
Munger said he’s excited to showcase the 5-year-old on Canadian soil.
“I know a fair bit about her racing style,” Munger said. “I rode against her back in South Africa, and she definitely deserves the reputation she has achieved. She’s a beautiful mare with a devastating turn of foot.”
Just five others were entered in the paceless Canadian: Crevalle d’Oro, Life’s an Audible, Ready for Shirl, Scarlet Poppy, and Venencia. Ready for Shirl has the home-field advantage. She made her way through traffic in the stretch to finish second while arguably best to front-runner Ocean Club in the Grade 2 Nassau going a mile June 28. Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride her again for trainer Roger Attfield, who has won the Canadian three times.
Connaught Cup
Cruden Bay will try to win the Connaught Cup for the second year in a row, perhaps a tall order off an 11-month layoff.
Owned by Michael Lay, Cruden Bay gave trainer Don MacRae the biggest win of his career in the seven-furlong event last year, when he won by a neck with a 98 Beyer Speed Figure. After ending up fifth in the Grade 2 King Edward a month later in August, the gelding went to the sidelines.
“We had that hiccup midway through last year,” MacRae recalled. “Kudos to Michael Lay for being as patient as he was. It’s not easy. His injury required some time to heal, and we made sure that he got the rest that he needed.”
Cruden Bay has worked weekly since mid-May and stronger than ever before, according to MacRae.
“I have never seen him be so aggressive and so solid on the bridle,” MacRae said. “This is the best I have ever seen him come into a race. In most cases, I wouldn’t put him in a stakes race right off the bat, but he ran so well fresh last year. I expect him to fire a big one.”
The three shippers in the 10-horse field are Kehoe Beach, Northern Invader, and Shards.
The speedy filly Kehoe Beach is taking on the boys under John Velazquez off a weakening fourth over yielding ground in the Grade 1 Just a Game at Saratoga. She was previously third in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland for trainer Wesley Ward, who is no stranger to success at Woodbine.
Ontario-bred Northern Invader was supplemented by trainer Cherie DeVaux off a conditioned allowance score at a mile at Churchill. Normally a front-runner, he gets the red-hot Rafael Hernandez as his rider and could take up the chase in second, near the flank of Kehoe Beach.
Longshot Shards is a Tapeta specialist with spotty turf form. His trainer, Kelsey Danner, won two stakes with Brindi here this spring with Sofia Vives along for the ride.
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