Moira (horse)

Last updated

Moira
Moira - Queens Plate 03.jpg
Moira at the 2022 Queen's Plate
Sire Ghostzapper
Grandsire Awesome Again
DamDevine Aida
Damsire Unbridled's Song
Sex Mare
FoaledApril 11, 2019 [1]
Country Canada
ColorDark Bay
Breeder Adena Springs (ON)
Owner1. Madaket Stables, SF Racing & X-Men Racing (Aug. 2021 – Nov. 2023)
2. DM Racing Ventures (Nov. 2023 - Jan. 2024)
3. Madaket Stables, SF Racing & X-Men Racing (Jan. 2024 – Nov. 2024)
4. Yu Long Investments (Nov. 2024 – )
Trainer1. Kevin Attard (Aug. 2021 – Nov. 2024)
2. Chris Waller (Feb. 2025 – )
Record19: 7 - 6 - 2
Earnings US$3,004,802 [2]
Major wins
Princess Elizabeth Stakes (2021)
Fury Stakes (2022)
Woodbine Oaks (2022)
Queen's Plate (2022)
Canadian Stakes (2023)
Beverly D. Stakes (2024)
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2024)
Awards
Canadian Horse of the Year (2022)
Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (2022)
American Champion Female Turf Horse (2024)
Last updated on August 18, 2025

Moira (foaled April 11, 2019) is a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2022 Woodbine Oaks and Queen's Plate. She set a track record in the Queen's Plate while becoming the 38th filly to win the race.

Contents

Background

Moira is a dark bay mare who was bred in Ontario by Adena Springs. She was sired by Ghostzapper, the 2004 American Horse of the Year after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic. Her dam, Devine Aida, is a graded stakes-placed daughter of Unbridled's Song. [2] The family traces to Begum, a blind daughter of Alydar who became an outstanding producer. [3]

She was sold at the 2020 Keeneland Yearling Sale for $150,000 to X-Men Racing, a group of friends put together by bloodstock agent Donato Lanni. Lanni also brought American-based Madaket Stable and SF Racing into the partnership. "We put a fund together and we bought a dozen horses and she was one of them," said Lanni. "They're all guys that are in the horse business, some of them in the Standardbred business. But what they all have in common, besides being friends with me, is that they're all lucky." [4]

She is named after the character Moira Rose, played by Catherine O'Hara, from Schitt's Creek. [5] She is trained by Kevin Attard. [2]


Racing career

Moira made her first start on October 23, 2021, in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack. She raced near the back of the pack for the first three-quarters of a mile, then started her move on the final turn. Bumped at the head of the stretch, she recovered her stride and made a strong late move to win by 4+14 lengths. [6]

On November 28, Moira went off as the even-money favourite in the Mazarine Stakes. She settled near the back of the pack and made her move on the final turn, first on the outside and then on the inside as she looked for racing room. She closed late but was unable to get by Mrs. Barbara, who won by half a length. [7]

2022: three-year-old season

Moira in the post parade for the Queen's Plate Moira - Queens Plate 01.jpg
Moira in the post parade for the Queen's Plate

Moira made her three-year-old debut on June 11, 2022, in the Fury Stakes at Woodbine. She raced in mid-pack for the first half-mile, then moved four-wide as the field turned into the stretch. She reached the lead in mid-stretch then held off a late run by Pioneer's Edge to win by a head. [8]

In the Woodbine Oaks on July 24, Moira went off as the even-money favourite in a field of ten. She was nervous in the paddock before the race and stepped on one her hind hooves, knocking off one shoe and bending the other. The paddock blacksmith tried to fix the problem but Attard ultimately decided to run her without either hind shoe. Moira settled in mid-pack for the first half-mile then made her move on the far turn while racing three-wide. She quickly took the lead near the top of the stretch and continued to draw away to win by 10+34 lengths. "We just sat there and saved as much ground as we could," said jockey Rafael Hernandez. "I knew horses were going to be stopping in front of me, so I just tried to get her away from them. By the three-eighths [pole], I was already where I wanted to be." [9] [10] Her time of 1:49.78 for nine furlongs was 0.84 faster than the colts ran the Plate Trial later on the same day at Woodbine. [11]

Moira made her first start against male horses on August 21 in the Queen's Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. She faced a competitive field, headed by Rondure (Marine Stakes) and Sir for Sure (Plate Trial). [11] The betting favourite for much of the day, Moira ultimately went off at odds of 9–5, the second choice in the betting to Rondure, who received late support. All other horses in the field went off at double-digit odds. Attard kept the filly in the saddling enclosure before the race, trying to keep her from getting over-excited. "I could see she was getting a little edgy just because so many people were around," said Attard. "She knew today was a different day." [12]

Moira takes the lead in the Queen's Plate Moira - Queens Plate stretch.jpg
Moira takes the lead in the Queen's Plate

Moira settled near the back of the pack as the field moved down the stretch for the first time. She continued to race well back along the rail until the final turn when she was switched to the outside. Near the head of the stretch, she moved alongside the leaders and quickly drew away. She won easily by seven lengths, with Hernandez standing in the irons for the final strides. She set a track record for Woodbine's Tapeta surface of 2:01.48 for 1+14 miles, while running the fastest Queen's Plate in its 163-year history. [4] [5] [12] [13]

Moira is the 38th filly to win the Queen's Plate, with the fastest time in the post-1957 change to a 114 mile length [5] and the eighth to win both the Woodbine Oaks and Queen's Plate. It was the first Queen's Plate win for owner Lanni and trainer Attard. "I've known [Attard] for 20 years, and this has been a dream – a dream of his, mine – being two Canadian boys to win this race," said Lanni. "This is unbelievable. What a filly." [5]

Moira made her next start on October 8 in the Grade I E. P. Taylor Stakes, running over turf for the first time while facing older fillies and mares. Going off as the 6–5 favourite, she raced in the middle of a tightly bunched field. In the stretch, she lacked racing room so Hernandez moved her sharply to the inside, cutting off another horse, Lemista, in the process. Although Moira was tight against the rail, she began to inch her way to the lead, only to be beaten at the wire by Rougir, who made a late run on the outside. Moira was subsequently disqualified to eighth place for interference with Lemista. [14]

Moira's final start of the year was the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on November 5, where she was ridden by Frankie Dettori. [15] Breaking from the outside post, she was well back early but closed steadily in the stretch to finish fifth. [16]

2023: four-year-old season

After her final race in 2023 Moira was sent to the Keeneland's Fasig-Tipton November Sale where she was sold for $3 million to DM Racing Ventures. [17]

2024: five-year-old season

Statistics

DateDistanceRaceGradeTrackOddsFieldFinishWinning
Time
Winning
(Losing)
Margin
JockeyRef
2021 two-year-old season
Oct 23, 2021 Princess Elizabeth Stakes Woodbine 4.301011:44.63Justin Stein [6]
Nov 28, 2021 Mazarine Stakes Woodbine 1.15*921:44.64Justin Stein [7]
2022 three-year-old season
Jun 11, 2022 Fury Stakes Woodbine 2.25711:22.81 Rafael Hernandez [8]
Jul 24, 2022 Woodbine Oaks Woodbine 1.00*1011:49.78 Rafael Hernandez [9]
Aug 21, 2022 Queen's Plate Woodbine 1.801112:01.48 [b] Rafael Hernandez [13]
Oct 8, 2022 E.P. Taylor Stakes Woodbine 1.15*98 [c] 2:02.62 Rafael Hernandez [18]
Nov 5, 2022 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Keeneland 9.191251:51.88 Frankie Dettori [16]
2023 four-year-old season
Jun 3, 2023 Belle Mahone Stakes Woodbine 0.30*721:44.49 Patrick Husbands [19]
Jul 1, 2023 Nassau Stakes Woodbine 0.90*921:40.03Kazushi Kimura [20]
Aug 20, 2023 Dance Smartly Stakes Woodbine 1.10*721:39.60 Rafael Hernandez [21]
Sep 9, 2023 Canadian Stakes Woodbine 2.95611:46.04 Rafael Hernandez [22]
Oct 8, 2023 E.P. Taylor Stakes Woodbine 1.55*1032:04.20 Rafael Hernandez [23]
2024 five-year-old season
Jul 13, 2024 Diana Stakes Saratoga 6.801021:48.14 Tyler Gaffalione [24]
Aug 11, 2024 Beverly D. Stakes Colonial Downs 0.70*511:54.80 José L. Ortiz [25]
Sep 14, 2024 E.P. Taylor Stakes Woodbine 0.90*521:59.29 Rafael Hernandez [26]
Nov 2, 2024 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Del Mar 5.801212:14.95 Flavien Prat [27] [28]
2025 six-year-old season
Apr 5, 2025 Doncaster Mile Randwick 10.020141:35.28 Zac Purton [29]
Aug 16, 2025 P B Lawrence Stakes Caulfield 9.0941:25.96 Damian Lane [30]

Legend:
  All-weather track  Dirt  Turf

An asterisk after the odds means Moira was the post-time favourite.

  1. 1 2 The Woodbine Oaks and Queen's Plate are not eligible for grading as they are restricted to Canadian-bred horses
  2. New track record
  3. Moira crossed the finish line in second place but was disqualified to eighth place due to interference
  4. The distance of the Doncaster Mile is approximately one mile
  5. The distance of the P.B. Lawrence Stakes is approximately seven furlongs

Pedigree

Pedigree of Moira, bay filly, April 11, 2019 [1]
Sire
Ghostzapper
Awesome Again Deputy Minister Vice Regent
Mint Copy
Primal Force Blushing Groom (FR)
Prime Prospect
Baby Zip Relaunch In Reality
Foggy Note
Thirty ZipTri Jet
Sailaway
Dam
Devine Aida
Unbridled's Song Unbridled Fappiano
Gana Facil
Trolley Song Caro (IRE)
Lucky Spell
PassionCame Home Gone West
Nice Assay
Rajmata Known Fact
Begum (family 1-l) [31]

References

  1. 1 2 "Pedigree of Moira". Equineline. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Equibase Profile for Moira". Equibase. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  3. "Blind Faith: Story of Begum". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Magnificent Moira reigns in Plate" (PDF). TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 King, Byron. "Moira romps in Plate, fastest winner in 163 years". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Chart for Princess Elizabeth Stakes". equibase.com. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Chart for the Mazarine Stakes". equibase.com. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Chart for the Fury Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Chart of the Woodbine Oaks". Equibase. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  10. "Moira soars to Woodbine Oaks victory". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  11. 1 2 King, Byron. "Moira battles boys in Queen's Plate". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Moira wins 163rd running of $1-million Queen's Plate". cbc.ca. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Chart of the Queen's Plate". Equibase. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  14. Gierkink, Ron. "Rougir gets up in final strides of E.P. Taylor; Moira disqualified for interference". www.drf.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  15. "Dettori lands Breeders' Cup rides on Moira, Last Call". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Chart for Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf". Equibase. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  17. "Canadian Champion Moira Brings $3M; She was consigned as Hip 156 by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent". BloodHorse.com. November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  18. "Chart of the E. P. Taylor Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  19. "2023 Belle Mahone Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  20. "2023 Nassau Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". July 1, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  21. "2023 Dance Smartly Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". August 20, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  22. "2023 Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association Grade 2 - (race 10)". September 9, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  23. "Chart of the E. P. Taylor Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  24. "2024 Diana Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  25. "2024 Diana Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. August 11, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  26. "Chart of the E. P. Taylor Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. September 14, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  27. "Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. November 2, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  28. Collins, Sean (November 3, 2024). "Third Time's the Charm for Moira in Filly & Mare Turf". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  29. "The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) Grade 1 - (race 8)". Breednet. August 18, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  30. "Catanach's Jewellers P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) Grade 2 - (race 8)". Breednet. August 18, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  31. "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Paraffin - Family 1-L". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved August 27, 2022.