Cruden Bay and jockey Sofia Vives winning the bet365 Connaught Cup (G2) on July 20, 2024, at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photo)
MacRae trainee looking to extend streak in King Edward: “I kind of think the extra furlong is really going to help him”
bet365 King Edward Stakes Preview
Bill Tallon, for Woodbine
TORONTO, August 15, 2024 – Heading into this season, Cruden Bay had established a reputation as a very honest sort while competing primarily under allowances terms.
But the 6-year-old gelding, owned by Michael Lay and trained by Don MacRae, has flipped the script this year and is heading into Saturday’s bet365 King Edward Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up, in search of his third win in as many starts and second consecutive graded stakes score.
The King Edward, which offers Grade 2 status and a purse of $200,000, will be run over one mile on the E.P. Taylor turf and is the leading local prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile on September 14.
“Toward the end of his 3-year-old and 4-year-old campaigns, I remember telling Michael Lay that he was going to get better as he got older,” said MacRae. “But to say he was going to get this good… not in a million years.”
A convincing winner under third-level allowance conditions at 22-1 on June 1, Cruden Bay doubled up seven weeks later when defeating the hard knocking War Bomber (IRE) by a neck at a well-backed 4-1 in the Connaught Cup (G2T). Both races were run over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf and Cruden Bay rallied from well off the pace on each occasion.
“I never really thought he’d be the kind of horse that would get up going seven-eighths on the turf and I kind of think the extra furlong is really going to help him,” said MacRae, of the horse with a 7-9-1 mark from 22 career starts, along with $433,405 (U.S.) in career earnings. “That being said, this race is developing to be a little tougher. But he definitely warrants a shot in there.
“He seems to be happy, and we’re excited to run.”
Apprentice standout Sofia Vives, who has become a go-to rider in stakes races, joined forces for the first time with Cruden Bay, bred in Ontario by Spring Farm, this year.
“She has a lot of confidence in the horse,” said MacRae.
Cruden Bay’s six opponents include the returning War Bomber as well as Filo di Arianna (BRZ), the last two winners of the King Edward.
Trained by Norm McKnight for owner Bruno Schickedanz, War Bomber recorded his most important victory to date in last summer’s King Edward after ending a solid second in the Connaught Cup.
Facing Cruden Bay in this year’s Connaught renewal, War Bomber had looked like a winner after surging to the lead in mid-stretch under rider Rafael Hernandez but could not contain the winner’s potent wide rally and fell just short.
“I was a little surprised; I thought he was going to win there, for a minute,” said McKnight. “I think Raffie did, too. He broke through there and he really seemed to accelerate.
“But then Raffie said he just kind of got away from the field, and he put his head up and kind of waited on them. That other horse just came so far outside of him, he didn’t really get time to engage back.”
The Connaught Cup was just War Bomber’s second start of 2024 following an indifferent effort on June 1 in the Jacques Cartier over six furlongs on the all-weather surface.
“Typically, if you look at his pattern, his first race of the year is always kind of dismal,” said McKnight, of the horse bred by Coolmore. “I thought he’d run well last time. So did Raffie.”
Filo Di Arianna is the senior member of the field at 8 but is lightly raced with just 16 starts and is coming into the King Edward off a sharp score for conditioner Mark Casse in the six-furlong Highlander on June 29.
“He doesn’t run often, but he makes it count when he does,” said Casse.
The Highlander was Filo di Arianna’s fourth outing in three months and Casse elected to bypass the Connaught Cup and await the King Edward.
“I decided to give him a little more time, concentrate on this, and then hopefully have a big effort back in the Woodbine Mile.”
That Highlander score was Filo di Arianna’s fourth in as many outings over the E.P. Taylor course, including the Connaught Cup and King Edward in 2022.
Owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch, Filo di Arianna, bred by Stud Principessa di Capri, took home Sovereign Awards as Canada’s champion male sprinter and champion turf horse that season.
Casse also won King Edwards with Olympic Runner (2021), March to the Arch (2020), and Royal Oath (2008) and will have a second candidate on Saturday in Like the King, who was a smart allowance winner over the distance and surface last time out.
“He ran a really good race,” said Casse. “He’s going to have to step it up a little but he’s doing well.”
Field for the $200,000 bet365 King Edward Stakes (Race 8)
