Moira wins the Filly & Mare Turf (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Breeders’ Cup Press Release
DEL MAR, Calif.— The third time was the charm as K-Men Racing, Madaket Stables and SF Racing’s Moira assumed command entering the stretch and held off a late bid from Cinderella’s Dream (GB) by a half-length to win the 26th running of the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Del Mar Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Kevin Attard and ridden by Flavien Prat, Moira completed the 1 3/8 miles over a firm turf course in 2:14.95. The victory is the first for Attard at the World Championships and the seventh for Prat and first in the Filly & Mare Turf.
The 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare had been fifth in this race in 2022 at Keeneland and third last year at Santa Anita.
Moira’s stablemate Full Count Felicia set the pace with fractions of :25.38, :49.84 and 1:15.08 with Moira racing in mid-pack. On the far turn, Sunset Glory went after Full Count Felicia with Moira on the move right behind and taking over at the top of the lane.
Moira opened a daylight advantage in the lane and had enough left to hold off Cinderella’s Dream, who got up to get second by a nose over Didia (ARG). The victory, her first Grade 1, was worth $1,040,000 and boosted Moira’s earnings to $2,996,017 with a record of 17-7-6-2.
Quotes:
Winning trainer Kevin Attard, Moira – “Just fantastic. She’s such a good horse. It’s so rewarding to finally see her get that Grade 1. Had a great trip. She trained really well going into this race and it just unfolded in the right direction for us.”
This mare has a fine career for you: “She has. A little but underrated. Doesn’t get the respect sometimes I think she deserves. It was nice to see her put it all together today and show everybody that she is a true champion.”
Winning jockey Flavien Prat, Moira – “She broke well and I was able to get myself close to the rail going into the first turn. It felt like the pace was slow, and on the backside, I didn’t want anyone to get the move on me. I decided to get out and get myself closer and try to get the jump on everybody and it worked out.”
On winning the Classic and Filly and Mare Turf back to back: “It’s great obviously. I thought I had some good chances earlier and yesterday, it didn’t happen. I kept my head up and just went out there and was trying to ride good races. Those horses rewarded me.”
Trainer Charlie Appleby, second with beaten favorite Cinderella’s Dream (GB) — “She looked a touch unlucky not to win and William (Buick) had to sit and suffer until she could eventually get going. They didn’t seem to go much of a pace but she’s very talented and there’ll be another day with her.”
Jockey William Buick, second with beaten favorite Cinderella’s Dream (GB) – “She had a good trip, but they went slow and I just didn’t get the split in time. She had never run over the trip before, so I had to save everything I could. She ran a super race and I think she’s top class.”
Trainer Ignacio Correas, third with Didia (ARG) — “I didn’t like her last race (fourth in the Grade 2 Mabee at Del Mar Sept. 7) and I had to find out what happened. We figured out what it was and thank God we did it. It’s too complex to explain. She was perfect coming into this race. I was telling the owners we had the old filly, our filly. I am very proud of her. I thought she ran a helluva race and Jose (Ortiz) rode a helluva race. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. They are all good here. I will take a third in a Breeders’ Cup race every day of the year.”
Jockey Jose Ortiz, third with Didia (ARG) – “She ran great. We were very happy with the race. We had a good trip. Flavien (Prat) made a move by the by the five-eighths pole and it worked out for him. I thought it was a little early for me, but after that I just kept my position and followed him throughout. Moria is a very nice horse.”
Fourth-place jockey Oisin Murphy with Beautiful Love (IRE) – “She’s run a great race. We crawled round, went no gallop at all and she just got done for a bit of kick but kept on all the way to the line.”
