Trainer Kevin Attard has been one of the most successful trainers in Canadian racing over the last decade, but one of the boxes on his résumé remains unchecked: a Breeders’ Cup victory.
In search of attaining that goal, he enters a strong duo in Moira and Full Count Felicia in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).
Moira has been the stable darling over the last three seasons. In 2022, she brought Attard his first of two victories in Canada’s biggest race: the King’s Plate Stakes—known as the Queen’s Plate for Moira’s victory. She was crowned Canada’s 2022 Horse of the Year.
Venturing out of Canada for the first time in her career that fall, she ran a respectable fifth in the Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland. In her nine starts since then, she’s never finished off the board. In 2023, she again contested the Filly and Mare Turf and finished best of the North American-based runners when third beaten just 1 1/4 lengths by Inspiral . Attard said it was a performance he hopes she’ll repeat.
“She’s a very special horse for me,” Attard said. “My first Queen’s Plate winner back home, Horse of the Year. To see her continue on and become one of the top North American turf fillies is incredible.”
Entered in Fasig-Tipton’s The November Sale Nov. 4 by owners Madaket Stables, SF Racing, and X-Men Racing, her third attempt in the Filly and Mare Turf will likely be her final start; giving the 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper one last chance to earn an elusive grade 1 victory. She has placed in each of her last four grade 1 attempts.
“For some reason, she’s been unfortunate not to win a grade 1 yet,” Attard said. “It would be nice to see her cap it off with a grade 1 in the Breeders’ Cup.”
Along for emotional support as Moira again faces the tall challenge of a high-quality international field in what will likely be her final race, is her plush dog that sits in place of her jolly ball.
Moira and her stuffed dog at the Breeders’ Cup
“It’s just a little companion,” Attard said of the toy. “She sometimes gets a little excitable and this kind of keeps her calm and quiet.”
Attard has been trying to teach Gold Square’s Full Count Felicia to have that calm and quiet gene since joining his barn this spring.
“When she first got to us, she was very aggressive early in the mornings,” Attard said. “We’ve worked on trying to get her to settle in the morning. I think she has responded well to that.”
A two-time winner, both graded stakes, in three starts for Attard, the 5-year-old War Front mare’s eagerness was on display again Oct. 30 as she galloped around Del Mar.
Full Count Felicia gallops at Del Mar
Full Count Felicia upended stablemate Moira’s most recent bid at getting her first grade 1 as she stole the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) by running away with the lead early. Credited by Equibase charts with a 19-length lead after the opening six furlongs in the 1 1/4-mile race at Woodbine, Full Count Felicia could never be reeled in and hit the wire 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Moira and 2023 Canadian Horse of the Year Fev Rover .
“I don’t think she got respected enough by all the other riders in the race,” Attard said. “She just showed how capable and the quality of a horse that she is. If they were to let that happen on Saturday, they might have a hard time catching her again.”
That being said, the game plan will not include a 19-length lead at any point in the race as she tacks on an extra furlong in distance.
“That was very unexpected,” Attard said of the large lead in the E. P. Taylor. “We weren’t expecting that, we never planned that out. It worked for that day, but obviously it’s a different type of field on Saturday. Luckily, she’s training very well, she’s coming into the race in good order, and her confidence is high.”
With both racing 1 3/8 miles for the first time, Attard remains confident that Moira and Full Count Felicia will handle the added distance. Both have won at 1 1/4 miles.