British Royalty Triumphs In Breeders’ Stakes; Amalfi Coast Captures Ontario Fashion

TORONTO, ON – British Royalty closed out the 2021 Canadian Triple Crown with an impressive triumph in Sunday’s 130th running of the $401,600 Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine on the same card that also saw Amalfi Coast capture the $177,700 Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3).

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A bay son of English Channel, British Royalty, who had been claimed away from trainer and co-owner Barb Minshall this summer, made his Triple Crown series debut a successful one, sprinting away from his rivals with ease to win the race for Canadian-foaled 3-year-olds.

Facing a field that included Queen’s Plate winner Safe Conduct, Plate runner-up Riptide Rock, Prince of Wales Stakes champ Haddassah, and a host of other talented turf types, British Royalty had his work cut out for him.

On an overcast day at the Toronto oval, he came shining through with a top-shelf score.

It was Safe Conduct who seized control of the 1 1/2-mile grass marathon as Haddassah (in second) and Keep Grinding (in third) kept close tabs on the leader. Patrick Husbands had British Royalty comfortably settled in seventh spot through an opening 1/4 in :25.00.

The Plate winner continued to call the shots through a 1/2-mile reached in :51.53 as Collective Force, now second, shadowed the pacesetter’s every move. Husbands guided British Royalty into sixth spot as the gelding and Riptide Rock started to gain momentum on the front-runners.

Safe Conduct soon found himself under siege from both sides as Collective Force battled on gamely and British Royalty found another gear, blasting to the lead and holding a 1-length advantage on a surging Riptide Rock at Robert Geller’s stretch call reached in 2:09.05.

At the wire, British Royalty was a convincing and deserving 4-length victor.

Riptide Rock and Collective Force, second and third respectively, were well ahead of their nearest rivals. Harlan Estate was fourth in the race contested over yielding ground. The final time was 2:34.00.

Sent off at 24/1, British Royalty returned $51.20 for the win, marking his second victory in 9 career starts.

For Minshall, who lost the horse to a claim on July 11 and then claimed him back on July 24, the win was one of the most rewarding of her career.

“I was looking to win a race, and I took a chance, and I was very upset with myself for taking such a chance,” recalled the champion conditioner, who co-owns the horse with Bruce Lunsford. “And lo and behold, the horse is back in the next time, he runs 2 weeks later, and I couldn’t get in there fast enough to get him back. I knew I made a huge mistake. So, I’m really happy.”

Husbands, who won the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown with Wando and recorded his fifth Breeders’ Stakes title, was understandably thrilled to partner with the Richard Lister-bred sophomore for the first time.

“My agent (Leroy Trotman) came to my house, and he said to me, ‘I got a ride for you, but will you look at the forum?’ I said, ‘Leroy, that’s what I pay you for. I want to get your opinion.’ He said that Barb (Minshall) said you can come and work the horse and if you don’t like it, she won’t be mad at you. I came and breezed the horse, about 20 minutes later my agent asked me how the horse went. I said please don’t tell Barbie, but this horse is light. I’ve ridden him the last two breezes, and he went twice on softer turf, and he ran (today) the way I expected he would run.”

Emma-Jayne Wilson, aboard Safe Conduct, had high praise for the eighth-place finisher.

“I mean, he’s fantastic. I followed him since last year. Obviously, the trainer asked about me about riding him when he was a two-year-old. I’ve been keeping close tabs on him ever since. So, I mean kudos and congratulations for winning the (Queen’s) Plate. I was hoping I could get them another jewel of the crown, but it wasn’t our day to day.”

The Breeders’ win marked an outstanding weekend for Lunsford, whose homebred Art Collector took Saturday’s Woodward (G1) at Belmont.

Amalfi Coast Has Passion For Ontario Fashion

Bred and owned by Terra Racing Stable, Amalfi Coast notched her second graded victory this August in the Royal North Stakes (G2). Two years ago, the 5-year-old daughter of Tapizar won her first graded event, the Bessarabian Stakes (G2).

Sunday, the Kevin Attard trainee notched the hat trick courtesy of an enterprising ride by Justin Stein in the 6-furlong Tapeta race for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upwards.

Sent off as the 4/5-choice (Boardroom, the morning line 3/5 choice, was scratched), Amalfi Coast sat fifth through an opening 1/4 of :22.95 set by longshot Ima Beast.

After moving into third spot after a 1/2 in :46.10, Amalfi Coast was given her cue from Stein and the mare quickly burst onto the scene, just a head behind new leader Summer Sunday at the stretch call.

Amalfi Coast then proceeded to drive clear and went on to a 1-length win in a time of 1:09.40. Summer Sunday was second and Golden Vision was third.

For Attard and Stein, who teamed with Munnyfor Ro to take Saturday’s Wonder Where Stakes, it was yet another strong showing from the versatile Ontario-bred.

“She’s definitely one of my favorite horses that I’ve been blessed to ride,” said Stein. “She’s a real sweetheart and she’s just got a lot of heart and a lot of try. She’s always been a pleasure to be around.”

Attard had equally high praise.

“She’s a special filly. She’s been good to us from the get-go. She likes a little space in between her races, and she got that today.”

Amalfi Coast, now 7-2-4 from 18 starts, paid $3.70 for the win.