Sedburys Ghost victorious in the Plate Trial (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications
TORONTO – Sedburys Ghost, under Ryan Munger, announced himself as a key contender for The King’s Plate (August 16) after conjuring up a strong performance in the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.
Unbridled Weather and Scorching went head-to-head for early bragging rights, with the former securing the front seat coming out of the first turn in the 1 1/8-mile main track race for 3-year-olds foaled in Canada. Sedburys Ghost, meanwhile, was nestled into sixth spot by Munger after an opening panel in :22.84.
It was Unbridled Weather on top by a head after the pace slowed through a half in :47.22, as Sedburys Ghost was still positioned sixth of nine (Regal Guest was scratched) heading into the turn for home.
Scorching, now in charge, was hounded to his outside by longshot Forty N Five, while multiple stakes winner Notorious Gangster, who had resided near the back of the pack, came calling with an energetic outside move. Scorching dug in along the inside, but Sedburys Ghost kept coming and eventually wore down his rival with less than 100 yards to the wire.
Sedburys Ghost crossed the line 1¼ lengths on top. Notorious Gangster was second, one length in front of Scorching. Watsonville Red rallied to finish fourth.
The final time was 1:50.37.
“These quality horses are like push buttons,” praised Munger. “You just give them a clear run, and they give it to you. And my job as the pilot was just to get them around nice and relaxed and set them alight at the right time.”
Barb Minshall, who trains for owner and breeder Yawen Wu, was elated by the effort from the chestnut gelding.
“I kind of like the pace in a way, because I knew he’d close, and Ryan found a good trip,” said Minshall. “I knew if he found clean run at the end, at top of the lane, I was really confident in him today. I have to say we were confident.”
Sedburys Ghost arrived at the Plate Trial off a fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Marine Stakes (G3) on June 28.
“And thought he had a little bit of a trouble trip in the Marine,” Minshall noted. “I thought he could have won that as well as any of the horses. So, I was real confident going here.”
Wu was equally thrilled with the win.
“It’s very exciting because it’s kind of a struggle, where you have a small amount of mares,” said Wu. “But now this just gave me confidence, and I’m thinking, you know, I will probably get some more.”
The son of Shaman Ghost (winner of the 2015 Plate) out of the Sligo Bay (IRE) mare Hurricane Mimi is now 3-0-1 from five starts. Third in his debut last May, he reeled off consecutive wins, including a 3 ¼-length victory over six furlongs on June 8 to kick off his 3-year-old campaign.
Sedburys Ghost paid $16.80 for the Plate Trial win.
