Musketier wins Singspiel Stakes again, fourth Singspiel for Roger Attfield
Roger Attfield’s Musketier galloped across the last furlong at the Woodbine Racetrack to defeat Grassy and win the $152,984 Singspiel Stakes on Sunday 26th June 2011. This is trainer Attfield’s fourth and Musketier’s second victory at the Singspiel
Stakes in the past seven years.
Attfield had another entry in the race too, Simmard.
Posing a huge threat to both these entrants, was seven-year-old 2/1 favourite, Rahy’s Attorney, who was the initial pace-setter of the slow race. He covered the first half mile in a swift 52.77 seconds and the initial mile in 1 minute 41.07 seconds.
In the final half mile, Simmard threatened Rahy’s Attorney by trying to get ahead and while the two were indulged in a private battle, Musketier and Grassy under jockey, Garrett Gomez, crossed them and ended up battling it out for first place.
Owned by Stella Perdomo, 5/2 second favourite Musketier finished the 1 ½ mile race in 2 minutes and 29.54 by a neck’s length seconds under jockey, John Velazquez.
Grassy finished in second place while Windward Islands finished third, one length behind Grassy.
Windward Islands’ loss might be attributed to the fact the he had to move from the inside to the outside in the final stretch causing loss of ground and allowing others to get ahead.
Simmard obtained fourth position while Rahy’s Attorney a disappointing fifth.
At the end of the pack were Solitaire and Miami Deco, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively.
A proud Velazquez said, “I carried out a little bit going into that first turn...I got to the half-mile pole and got some momentum going…but I got at him at the sixteenth pole and won.”
However he did admit that it did take a little convincing to get Musketier going. He added that in the final stages of the race Musketier responded to him well which led to their victory.
Trainer Attfield jokingly said, “He’s got some idiosyncrasies and some problems like myself. If you look after them and keep them happy…he’s just a great guy. We’re both gray, I know that”.
Nine-year-old Musketier, son of Acatenango and Myth and Reality has a career spanning forty exciting races.
Prior to this race he had won his second graded stakes of the year at Keeneland's Elkhorn Stakes on 29th April 2011. Earlier on in 2009 he won his first Singspiel Stakes by beating Mission Approved by more than four lengths.
This season he has placed four times out of his five starts and this race has brought Musketier’s earnings to a handsome $876,471 with a total of nine career wins.
Despite his age, it looks like Musketier is at his peak. Whether he will continue to run in such great shape or give in to the perils of age is yet to be seen, but he must be commended for his performance this Sunday.
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