Path To The Queen's Plate: You Can Believe The Hype

What follows is the sixth installment of my ongoing diary detailing the preparation and hard work that goes into training a contender for the Queen's Plate. While many racing fans only see the two minutes of action that occurs on the track, trainer Ian Black has graciously provided Triple Dead Heat with access to his barn as he conditions Southdale for North America's oldest thoroughbred graded stakes race. Over the coming weeks I will introduce you to the people behind the scenes, provide footage from workouts, and inside access to race day events. I'm thankful to Ian Black and his team for this opportunity and hope the resulting diary will be as much fun to read as it has been for me to experience.

May 9, 2009 Diary Entry An Introduction including a Cast of Characters.
May 13, 2009 Diary Entry A Workout Day For Southdale.
May 25, 2009 Diary Entry Team Southdale Rallies Around Rahy's Attorney
May 26, 2009 Diary Entry Getting Equipped For The Plate Trial
May 31, 2009 Diary Entry The Two Turn Test

June 1, 2009

Team Southdale Huddles Up In The Paddock


The Plate Trial provided an intriguing two-turn test as all but two of the ten horses entered were contesting 1 1/8M for the first time. Southdale was looking eager in the paddock having waited since May 3rd to make only his third lifetime start. Despite the relative lack of race lines on Southdale's Form, Woodbine punters were content to bet the son of Street Cry down to second choice behind multiple stakes winner El Brujo. As it would turn out, the Plate Trial became an example of talent and conditioning over race experience as the two most lightly raced horses in the field put on a thrilling show for racing fans with a photo finish head-bob won by Eye of the Leopard.

Here's a look at the Plate Trial field in order of finish.

1st - Eye of the Leopard Just Got Up In Time


2nd - Southdale Fought Bravely Against The Wind Through The Stretch

3rd - Rapid Release featuring the 2008 Plate Winning Combo of Jono Jones and Roger Attfield Impressed at 30-1


4th - Active Duty Put In Another Solid Effort Hanging Late


5th - Keino West Raced Seven Wide Down The Lane


6th - Bucephalus Closed Well Into A Strong Headwind


7 th - Costalivin Led to the Top of the Stretch Before Fading


8th - Thor's Piper Raced Evenly But Never Threatened


9th - El Brujo Disappointed As The Favourite

10th - Eastern Promise Did Not Enjoy His First Trip Over The Poly

The race was run through very slow fractions as Chantal Sutherland and Costalivin kept just in front of a head-strong Southdale through the backstretch. Southdale stalked with a purpose while Corey Fraser and Active Duty monitored the pace from between horses. As the horses reached the far turn, Eye of the Leopard made his move four wide instigating a stretch long chase from the middle of the track to just get up and nip Southdale at the wire. Rapid Release was up for third, two lengths in front of Active Duty, though neither really threatened the top two.

Southie Was Still In Front Just Yards From The Finish


I spoke to track announcer Dan Loiselle after the race who thought Southdale looked a little keen going into the first turn. Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson confirmed those thoughts in her post-race comments stating, "It was a great trip. He's only got a few races under his belt. He's still learning. He's still got a few more things to figure out. It was his first time going two turns and it was an extended two-turn distance. I'm really happy with the way my horse responded and I think it set him up good for the Plate."

Team Southdale Congregates Around The Big Colt


As the handlers gathered around their horses after the race, assistant trainer Jeff Bowen was impressed that Southdale galloped out in front after the wire. Wilson seemed very encouraged with the performance, "First time going two turns he was ready to go. He thinks he's the man. As far as I'm concerned that was a winning race. He knew (Eye of the Leopard) was there, but I don't think he knew truly how close he was."

Perhaps that last comment is the most telling one. While it is safe to say that both Eye of the Leopard and Southdale made a huge jump in terms of racetrack education with this race, it was not quite a nose-to-nose battle. Had the two horses been travelling side-by-side down the lane, I have to wonder if Southie's competitive nature might have driven him past the wire first. Call it a biased case of the "would've, could've, should've's", but Southdale did fire on past the wire in a way that suggests the next meeting might not be so friendly.

As the horses cleared off the track after the race, I stood at the finish line and watched the replay of the trial on Woodbine's jumbotron. The head-on shot of the stretch run showed that Southdale ran straight down the rail through the stretch never wavering or floating out of path. There is no doubt the horse is fit and ready to take on the classic distance. What racing fans are now left with is a battle of wits between Ian Black and Eye of the Leopard trainer Mark Frostad. Each conditioner has a little more than two weeks to teach their young horses some new tricks in time for the Queen's Plate.

This could be the beginning of a beautiful rivalry.

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You can read a report on the race with a video link to the race itself by clicking into this article by the Thoroughbred Times.