The July 24 Plate Trial at Woodbine, an important preparatory step on the road to Queen’s Plate on August 21, attracted nine hopefuls, including Minkster , who is undefeated in three starts. The $150,000 Canadian Disc Trial is a 1/8 mile race on Tapeta for 3-year-old ponies in Canada.
Minkster, son of English Channel coached by Dan Vella for Sea Glass Stables owner, coming in his fourth life cycle starting with head-to-head Rondure another Plate heavyweight, at Queenston Stakes June 12.
“Three things didn’t turn out the way we expected, and he still won,” Vella suggested. “I ran him a little short, we could have moved a little early, and he came in front and thought, ‘Okay, we won, race over.” So three things weren’t what we wanted, and he still won. That is very impressive. You forget that it was only the third start in his life, and they could still run green at that point. “
Minkster’s two races last year resulted in a greater margin of victory.
Now, Vella, who has had 864 career wins, will be looking for his second-year standout to be ready to fire in the colt’s final race against Plate.
“There are a lot of fast horses, but what really defines the better horse – I’ve had great horses with great personalities and great horses with bad personalities – is that they have endurance. incredible training and an unbelievable cardiovascular system I guess It’s like great athletes That’s what I appreciate about these horses, that they seem capable great coachability, great resilience and great playability.He is all of that.Sometimes you can’t find the bottom…he just kept going.
Vella, who has two Plate titles to his name, in 1994 with Basqueian and in 2012 with Strait of Dover see a few similarities between the trio.
“Sure, he’s in the same league as them. He’s got great cardio and endurance. He trains like them. You never know until you get to 1/8th of a mile. in the end whether he’s good or not, but he definitely trains how they do.”
Other Plate Test starters include Mark Casse’s duo of Hall of Dreams and Sir for sure Trainee Gail Cox Honor guard and Dancin in Da’nile and Causin ‘Mayhem sent by Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher.
Also on the Sunday card are the $500,000 CA Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser and two classified shares.
Moira , Sahlabiya and Pioneer’s Edge are Oaks favorites for 3-year-old Canadian crossbreeds, like the Plate Trial game over 1 1/8 mile on the main track.
A win in the Oaks can also put the horse on the Queen’s Disc.
