Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Turf Course is the largest turf course in North America, home to several rich stakes races. The $150,000 Connaught Cup (G3) kicks off the 2009 stakes season on the famed turf, a 1 1/16 mile event for older horses. Last year's champion turf male in Canada, Rahy's Attorney, was sent off as the 5-2 choice in the field of seven, exiting a disappointing 6th place finish in the Mile Championship in Kyoto, Japan. Society's Chariman, an allowance winner at Keeneland in his last start, was the 3-1 second choice over 7-2 Sterwins, fifth in the Ben Ali at Keeneland last out.
Rahy's Attorney set a quick pace of 24.34, 46.94, and 1:10.28 under regular jockey Slade Callaghan, while 2 lengths ahead of French Beret second down the backstretch. Rahy's Attorney continued to lead to mid-stretch, getting the mile in 1:38.99, but Sterwins, who raced in sixth early, came 6 wide into the lane and was gaining strongly. Stewins nailed the pacesetter in the final strides by a head, completing the trip in a new course record time of 1:38.99 over the firm turf course. It was another 1 1/2 lengtths back to Society's Chairman thurd. The previous record was 1:39.20 set in 1995.
Results chart
