Rahy's Attorney Lays Down The Law

As I walked through the tunnel from the Woodbine backstretch and out onto the polytrack to watch the Sunday morning workouts, I was distracted by a loud snort and a gruff whinny. I turned towards the ruckus and was confronted by Rahy's Attorney being led back to the barn by Ian Black's assistant trainer Jeff "Skippy" Bowen. "Hey Keith," called out Bowen. "I think Rahy's trying to get your attention."

Rahy's Attorney on the morning of the Nijinsky


A few short hours later, Rahy's Attorney caught the attention of everyone with a powerful victory in the GII $339,100 Nijinsky Stakes defeating Marchfield and Champs Elysees in the process.

Bowen was busy Sunday morning overseeing a stable full of gallops and works for Black's barn but had time for a few words on a horse he holds in the highest regard. "Rahy has such a high cruising speed," stated Bowen matter of factly. "When he kicks, he kicks further than other horses can go." It was a statement made with a serious amount of respect for a five year-old gelding who is improving with each start.

Rahy's Attorney made his first start of 2009 in the GIII Connaught Cup and set a wicked pace despite carrying 126 pounds. Travelling one mile on the turf course, the son of Crown Attorney raced through fractions of 46.94 and 1:10.28 for jockey Slade Callaghan only to be caught at the wire by Sterwins in a track record time of 1:38.99. It was an impressive performance for Canada's reigning champion male turf horse in his season debut.

In his next start, Rahy's Attorney exacted a measure of revenge by defeating Sterwins in the GII King Edward Handicap at a distance of a mile and an eighth. Callaghan took his charge to the lead once again hitting the markers in 47.83 and 1:10.35 before being challenged by the multiple graded stakes winner Sterwins at the top of the stretch. This time, Callaghan and Rahy's Attorney would not be passed as the big horse refused to be headed and sped through the wire in a track record time of 1:44.73. It was a record that had stood for fourteen years, the previous record of 1:45.20 being set by Bold Ruritana on June 18, 1995.

Two starts into the meet and Rahy's Attorney had set the pace for two track records and showed no signs of slowing down.

Sunday's GII Nijinsky Stakes pushed the marker another eighth of a mile further as the gelding owned by Ellie Boje Farm, Dean Read, Mitch Peters, and Jim and Jean MacLellan stretched out to take on five foes in a ten furlong test.

GI winner Champs Elysees shipped in from Belmont along with rider Alan Garcia. The six year-old multiple GI winner had raced twice previously over this course with a win in the G1 Northern Dancer and a hard closing third in the G1 Canadian International.



Mark Casse's Marchfield, another graded stakes winner, would have plenty of pace to run at for jockey Patrick Husbands. The Melnyk Stables trainee was Canada's older male horse of the year on the main track in 2008 but has only five previous lifetime starts on the turf.



Spice Route, trained by Roger Attfield, was a rallying second in the Canadian International won by Marsh Side last October keeping Champs Elysees a neck behind. Jim McAleney retained the mount.



Sam-Son Farms entered two horses in the event. Catch The Luck, a four year-old gelding by A.P. Indy had never won on the turf but showed improving form with consecutive victories in allowance events. Queen's Plate winning jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva would steer the closing specialist.



French Beret had been in the money in 20 of 37 lifetime turf starts going into the Nijinsky, but only four wins. Todd Kabel had the unenviable task of ensuring Rahy's Attorney did not race with an uncontested pace.



From the opening bells, French Beret went to the lead opening up a four length lead on Rahy's Attorney reaching the half in 50.74 over a soft turf course. The remainder of the pack were bunched up some seven lengths behind Rahy's Attorney. Sprinting down the back stretch, Callaghan allowed the big gelding some rein and the pair skimmed swiftly along the rail dispatching French Beret with ease to open up a five-length lead turning into the stretch.

As the field charged down the long straightaway to the finish, Alan Garcia initiated a wide rally aboard Champs Elysees and Patrick Husbands urged Marchfield off the rail and into contention. The Woodbine grandstand roared as Callaghan and Rahy's Attorney continued their stride through the stretch.

The field chases Rahy's Attorney in vain


Marchfield loomed closer as the leader passed the tote board but there would be no denying the brave gelding as Rahy's Attorney stopped the clock in 2:08.42 winning by nearly two lengths. Marchfield would finish second keeping Champs Elysees six lengths in arrears.

You can't catch me!


Following the race, the connections celebrated in the winners circle and lauded the gelding with a series of heartfelt adulations.“He ran really good over a soft turf. I wouldn't necessarily say that might be his best going," smiled Slade Callaghan. "He has a heart like no other. You can't ask for anything more than that in a racehorse."

The champ heads back to the barn


Conditioner Ian Black was equally eloquent, "I'm in awe of the horse. He's wonderful. He loves to race. He loves to win. He has so much desire and a great mind. I'm honored to be around him."

Ian Black and Renee Kieran's reflect on Rahy's Attorney


Rahy's Attorney followed this same path last year before going on to win the Woodbine Mile. It would surprise no one if the big horse scored a million dollar hat trick this fall by repeating last year's success.

Thumbs Up! Jeff Bowen, Aline Allain and Reggae lead Rahy back to the barn