Former prospector looking to hit it big
There was a time when Charles Fipke’s life revolved around exploring Canada’s north for diamonds. Eventually he found some and made a fortune when he discovered the deposit now known as Ekati mine, one of world’s richest reserves of the gem.
He’s since sold his share in Ekati and still dabbles in geological exploration, but the Kelowna, B.C., resident is also on the hunt for a different type of jewels.
Last Saturday, Fipke’s homebred Tale of Verve attempted to thwart American Pharoah’s bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 when he ran in the Belmont Stakes. Tale of Verve, of course, was unsuccessful — finishing seventh.
On Sunday, Fipke will find out if three of his thoroughbreds are worthy of a chance at the Queen’s Plate, the first jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, to be run on July 5 at Woodbine. Danish Dynaformer and Billy’s Star will contend in the Plate Trial Stakes, a major prep for the Plate, while Java’s Bourbon will run in an allowance race earlier in the day.
Fipke’s homebred filly Internal Bourbon is also entered in Sunday’s $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, the first leg of the Triple Tiara series for three-year-old fillies.
“I didn’t expect to have three possible (Plate) contenders,” Fipke said of his colts in a phone interview. “It’s good.”
Hall of fame trainer Roger Attfield trains all four horses for Fipke. Attfield holds the record for most wins in the Queen’s Plate (eight) and has conditioned three Canadian Triple Crown winners.
These are familiar waters for Fipke and Attfield, who together have campaigned several standouts including 2008 Queen’s Plate winner Not Bourbon, the sire of both Java’s Bourbon and Internal Bourbon and 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl.
Attfield also trained Perfect Soul, the sire of Billy’s Star and Perfect Shirl.
“A lot of the families I’ve been involved with along the way,” said Attfield, who says he and Fipke have campaigned horses together more than two decades.
Fipke bought his first horse in 1981 and since then he has built up a formidable stable that includes stallions and an extensive band of broodmares. When asked how many horses he owns, he replies “a lot.”
He goes on to say that has an addiction to thoroughbred auctions, an obsession for which there is no cure. When his horses win races, Fipke is often overcome with emotion.
Horse-crazy Fipke has also ventured into the showjumping world, purchasing a piece of a stallion currently being trained and ridden by 10-time Olympian Ian Millar.
Attfield shares Fipke’s craving to participate on the big stage and believes the colts have a big shot to get them there.
“I don’t like sitting there on that day without a horse,” he said of the Queen’s Plate.
Danish Dynaformer was most recently third in the Marine Stakes at Woodbine and before that won al-
“I don’t like sitting there on that day without a horse.” ROGER ATTFIELD HALL OF FAME TRAINER ON THE QUEEN’S PLATE
lowance races at Kentucky’s Keenlenad and Gulfstream Park in Florida. Attfield describes Danish Dynaformer as “like a bull.”
As for Billy’s Star, Fipke bred and now owns in a syndicate called the “Perfect Timber Partnership.” He has won just one race in five starts, but is steadily improving coming into Triple Crown season.
Yet, Fipke is cautiously optimistic about his Plate chances. In 2011, he and Attfield won the Plate Trial with Check Your Soul who went into the Plate as the favourite.
In the race, Check Your Soul came down with a case of thumps, or hiccups, and finished seventh.
“All I can say is you better not get high on any horse,” he added.
But for Attfield, who has a recordsetting ninth Plate in his sights and, perhaps riding the high of American Pharoah’s magic, believes from what he’s been seeing in their development, the colts fit the Triple Crown mould.
“I’d like to think so,” he said. “They are both acting like they are just starting their careers right now, as far as I am concerned. They are going to tell me — and us — as they go along.”