June 22, 2008
The top middle-distance turf horses at Woodbine competed in the $300,000 King Edward Breeders' Cup Stakes (G2). A field of nine contested this 1 1/8 mile trip around one turn of the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. Due to heavy rains late this week, the course was rated as yielding and the temporary rail was set in Lane 3 (20 feet out). Connaught Cup 2nd place finisher Society's Chairman sent off as the 2-1 favorite in just his third lifetime start. Trained by Roger Attfield, owned by Charles Fipke, and ridden by Jono Jones, he is from the same connections of Queen's Plate winner Not Bourbon, and is by the same sire Not Impossible. In to challenge him were 3-1 second choice and William Farish homebred Royal Oath, fifth in the Connaught after shipping in from Dubai, and 7-2 third choice French Beret, third in the Connaught last out after finishing second in the Mervin Muniz at the Fair Grounds for owner-breeder Sam-Son Farm.
Ice Bear contested the pace with Society's Chairman down the long backstretch and around the turn, getting fractions of 24.45, 48.58, and 1:13.15. Ice Bear continued to lead into the stretch. With 3/16 of a mile to go, Royal Oath, who had raced in fifth early and came out 3 wide into the stretch, moved up to challenge the pacesetter, exchanging bumps through the final furlong, getting the mile in 1:37.02. Royal Oath fought off Ice Bear in the final strides to win by 1/2 a length in 1:39.67. It was another 1/2 length back to late-running Seaside Retreat third. Favorite Society's Chairman was still close up in third at the 1/8 pole but stopped badly late and bore out at the 1/16 pole, finishing a disappointing seventh.
Results chart from DRF
