Something Extra nabbed a front-running style victory in the Connaught Cup
Co-owned and trained by Gail Cox, Something Extra finally posted a victory on turf in his fourth attempt, as the 4-year-old gelding posted a front-running victory in the Canadian Grade 2, $149,821 Connaught Cup at Woodbine on 27 May, 2012.
Owned in partnership with John Menary, Something Extra ran over the Woodbine’s turf course, which was labelled turf as the 14 to 1 choice against 10 older horses, but the runner defied all odds and won the seven furlong race by a convincing margin of 2 ½
lengths in 1 minute and 20.69 seconds.
With Eurico Da Silva aboard, Something Extra right from the getgo assumed a 2 length lead over the defending champion of the Connaught Cup, Stormy Lord and Big Band Sound.
It was up to Something Extra to reel the field, and meanwhile he carved the opening quarter mile in 23 seconds, and half mile in 45.59 seconds. Throughout the half mile marker, the son of Indian Charlie ran by maintaining a comfortable lead over the rest
of the pack.
Out of Mt. Livermore mare Our Mariah, Something Extra held sway, and when the pair entered the lane, they held a 2 ½ length advantage.
“I wanted to use his speed, and the track too,” said da Silva. “(The turf course) seems like a big advantage for a speed horse.
"I kept talking to him, saying 'relax, relax.' Then I said, 'boy, I love you,' and then he relaxed, put his ears up and had a little breather, and then ran very fast home. He ran a great race.”
Something Extra spurted away in the stretch for a comfortable victory, while Big Band Sound rallied from ninth to finish a strong second, while ridden by David Clark; Artic Fern finished a game third.
Along with Big Band Sound, Stormy Lord was sent as the 9 to 2 co-second choice, but the runner felt the pressure and completed the order of finish, while the highweight at 125 pounds, Mutual Trust, the 2 to 1 favourite finished a trailing seventh on the
day.
Something Extra was coming off a fourth place finish in his seasonal debut, when he ran in the Jacques Cartier Stakes at Woodbine, where he has run his entire racing career.
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