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Real Grace digs deep to win the G3 Canadian Derby
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Alberta Division) hosted the 47th Annual Alberta Thoroughbred Awards in a virtual format on May 20th, 2021, led by Horse of the Year Real Grace.
Real Grace, a Mineshaft gelding, won two of nine starts in 2020, highlighted by an 18-1 upset victory in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Century Mile. Earlier in the season, he also won the Derby Trial Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.
The gelding started his 2020 campaign at Tampa Bay Downs after selling as a unraced racing-age prospect at the Ocala Breeders Sales Co. Winter Mixed Sale in January. He raced twice in Florida, including a second-place effort in a maiden special weight for owner and trainer Bernell Rhone. He then shipped north to Canterbury Park for another second-place effort, this time with additional owners Shelley Brown, Jean McEwan, and Bette Holtman.
Donn McClean on the British and Irish jumps scene ahead of the 2021 Punchestown Festival
By Donn McClean
14:29 · SUN April 25, 2021
Donn McClean reflects on the current National Hunt scene in Ireland and Britain ahead of the five-day Punchestown Festival.
Henry de Bromhead’s stable stars paraded at Tramore last Sunday: Honeysuckle, Put The Kettle On, Minella Indo, Minella Times, Balko Des Flos. The Champion Hurdle winner, the Champion Chase winner, the Gold Cup winner, the Grand National winner, the Grand National runner-up.
It is not so long ago that, if Irish trainers as a collective had had that haul, it would have been quite incredible. For one trainer, it was unprecedented.