Attard works 3 Plate hopefuls

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Kevin Attard worked three possible starters for the Sept. 12 Queen’s Plate on Saturday, including Plate Trial Stakes winner Clayton and the filly Merveilleux.

Under Rafael Hernandez, Clayton breezed five-eighths in 1:01.60 on the training track with Say Hey, a move that Attard said he was happy with.

“He breezed well,” Attard said. “He was nice and relaxed. He galloped out strongly. Hernandez seemed happy. All good signs.”

Coming off a troubled third in the Woodbine Oaks, Merveilleux went a rapid five-eighths in 58.40 seconds with Windchill Zar, after an opening three-eighths in 34.70. Kazushi Kimura, who inherits the mount from Hernandez in the Queen’s Plate, was aboard.

“I thought she went a little bit quick early,” Attard said. “I was a little disappointed in that. It’s two weeks away, so I’d rather get that kind of work out of the way, and we’ll follow it up with an easy work. She’s in good shape. I think she’s going to relish the mile and a quarter.”

Oaks runner-up Afleet Katherine breezed five-eighths in 1:00.80 on the inside of Biondetti’s Choice.

“I thought she worked really well,” Attard said. “She hasn’t been the greatest of work horses of recent.”

Attard said Afleet Katherine, who commenced her career with back-to-back turf tallies in July, is more likely to run in the $250,000 Bison City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Queen’s

Plate Day than in the Queen’s Plate itself, for which she would have to be supplemented for $25,000.

Attard said Malibu Mambo, the Queen’s Plate Winterbook favorite, is back in serious training after getting a break, but will miss the Queen’s Plate.

“We had to back off on him a little and freshen him up on the farm,” Attard said. “We brought him back in, and he’s training forwardly right now. We’re maybe targeting the Prince of Wales.”

No plans for Starship Jubilee

Attard said 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year Starship Jubilee exited her first loss of the year on Aug. 23, a fourth in the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga, in fine fettle. She had won her four previous starts, including the Grade 2 Ballston Spa.

“She came back from the race in great shape,” Attard said. “She’s nominated for the Canadian. That would be coming back a little quick. Nothing’s really set in stone yet. I don’t think she was disgraced in the Diana. She was only beaten four lengths. They slowed down that second quarter considerably, and [Rushing Fall and Mean Mary] are two great horses who lead the division. She looked a little hot on post parade, and that’s not typical for her. Maybe something rattled her up, or shipping there twice in a row. That might have taken a little bit out of her.”

The Grade 2 Canadian on Queen’s Plate Day is a race that Starship Jubilee won in each of the past two years.