Attard pair stretching out

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Hall of Fame trainer Sid Attard should be holding a strong hand in the $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes on Saturday when he sends out Silent Sting and Royal Laser in the 1 1/16-mile event for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

Silent Sting and Royal Laser are both going long for the first time, after finishing second and third in the seven-furlong Frost King Stakes for Ontariosired runners Nov. 18. Silent Sting rallied on the outside to lose by a head to the favored Be Vewy Vewy Quiet, as a troubled Royal Laser finished a length in arrears.

“Royal Laser was behind horses,” Attard said. “I wish he had gotten out a little earlier. He came flying from last. Two

jumps after the wire, he was in front.”

Attard was thrilled with the way that Silent Sting breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 on the Tapeta last Saturday.

“He worked so good,” Attard said. “He galloped out nice. I think he’ll love to go long.”

Royal Laser also breezed five furlongs last Saturday, going in company in 1:01.

“He worked really good, too,” Attard said. “He galloped out very good.”

The Kingarvie goes as the eighth of 10 races on the penultimate day of the Woodbine meet.

KEY CONTENDERS

Silent Sting, by Silent Name Beyers: 70-69-60

◗ The $150,000 Keeneland yearling purchase by Stronach Stables is a half-brother to Grade 1 Just a Game winner Celestine and another turf stakes winner, Haunted Heroine.

“He’s a good-sized, wellmannered horse,” Attard said.

Royal Laser, by Giant Gizmo Beyers: 67-64-63

◗ He’s owned in part by Goldmart Farm, which won the 2014 Kingarvie with his half-brother, the imposing Kingsport.

“He’s not big, but he’s a nice, really strong colt,” said Attard, who’s removing the blinkers.

Be Vewy Vewy Quiet, by Silent Name Last 3 Beyers: 70-70-69

◗ He came wide from midpack to notch his second stakes as the favorite in the Frost King. That was the first time that Rafael Hernandez rode him for trainer Robert Tiller, who has won the Kingarvie three times.

“We liked the [outside] post position,” Hernandez said after the race. “It set up perfect. He relaxed good and made his run down the lane. He’s not a rank horse. He can go two turns.”

Cooler Mike, by Giant Gizmo Last 3 Beyers: 65-67-59

◗ He possesses the most route stakes experience in the field, having finished fourth in both the 1 1/8-mile Coronation Futurity on the Tapeta and in the 1 1/16-mile Cup and Saucer on turf.