2016 Woodbine Mile hopeful Glenville Gardens on top of his game

Glenville Gardens, trained by Sid Attard and owned by his wife, Janice, holds a hot hoof heading into the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, thanks in part to the great chemistry he’s developed with veteran jockey Gary Boulanger.

A winner of three consecutive races for the second time in his career, Glenville Gardens, a four-year-old son of Street Cry, is at the top of his game as he looks to notch the biggest triumph of his career to date.

The dark bay will once again have the services of Woodbine-based rider Boulanger, who has been aboard the past four starts.

“Gary, he just loves this horse,” said Hall of Fame conditioner Attard, who won the 2001 Mile with Numerous Times. “That’s what he tells me – ‘Sid, I love to ride this horse.’ He does a great job of letting the horse be where he wants to be when the gate opens. When the time comes for Gary to ask the horse to run, he runs.” 

On a recent trip to Attard’s barn, Boulanger was asked for his thoughts on giving the Mile a go. 

“So, when Gary came over to see him, which he always does, I asked him, ‘What should we do? Should we run in the Mile?’” recalled Attard. “He said, ‘I don’t want to interfere.’ We are going to take a shot. Why not? He’s been running well and he’s in great shape.”  

 

Glenville Gardens is yet another astute claim by Attard, who paid $40,000 for the gelding last September. Since then, he’s won five of seven starts, including the Labeeb, last October, and Grade 2 Play The King Stakes, on August 20.

“He’s such a nice horse,” praised Attard. “We know this a very, very tough race. (Trainer) Mark Casse’s horse (Tepin), she’s a beautiful mare. But, he’s doing really well and who knows what can happen. Of course, you feel very proud when you are in a race like this.”

A lifetime winner of seven races from 13 starts, Glenville Gardens has banked $437,670 since his career bow on September 7, 2014. 

Arod, a five-year-old son of Teofilo, will take a swing at notching his first Grade 1 win in Sunday’s $1 million Woodbine Mile.

Owned by Qatar Racing Limited and trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, the Irish-bred heads into the Mile off a solid third-place outing in the Group 2 Doom Bar Celebration Mile at Goodwood on August 27.

“My horses had been very sick and he was the same, so really it was like his first run of the year,” said Chapple-Hyam. “He has been bouncing since the race, so I’m very happy with him.”

Arod has fared well at the mile distance, having won once, along with a second and three thirds from seven tries.

Last season, he recorded two wins, two seconds and a third from seven races, accompanied by $569,151 in purse earnings.

The lifetime earner of $817,490 has raced in Great Britain, Australia and France. Sunday’s race will mark the first time he has tested North American turf. 

“He loves going round bends,” noted Chapple-Hyam. “I spent a lot of time teaching him as he ran in our Derby and you need to track well round Epsom. He does like fast ground, so fingers crossed it will be. He is very tough and honest.”

Chapple-Hyam, a staunch supporter of West Bromwich Albion, will be hoping his Mile starter fares better than the English football club did on Saturday, losing 1-0 to Bournemouth.

“He hasn't been or ever will be beaten as much as the Albion, so he is in front already, but both are trying to bounce back,” he said with a laugh. 

Horse/Owner/Trainer/Jockey

Arod / Qatar Racing Limited / Peter Chapple-Hyam / Oisin Murphy

Full Mast / Juddmonte Farms / William Mott / Joel Rosario

Glenville Gardens / Janice Attard / Sid Attard / Gary Boulanger

Mr. Owen / Qatar Racing Limited / Francois Rohaut / Jamie Spencer

Mutakayyef / Shadwell Stable / William J. Haggas / Dane O'Neill

Passion for Action / Benjamin Hutzel / Mike DePaulo / Luis Contreras

Tepin / Robert E. Masterson / Mark Casse / Julien Leparoux

Tower of Texas / Thomas F. Van Meter II and Scott Dilworth / Roger Attfield / Eurico Rosa da Silva

Horse/Owner/Trainer

Beat The Benchmark / Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence / Chad Brown

Black Canary / Gary Barber / Mark Casse

Caroline Test / Edward Seltzer & Beverly Anderson / Ben Colebrook

Enstone / East West Stables / Mark Casse

Erin Commodity / Hillsbrook Farms / Rachel Halden

I'll Take The Cake / Nick Nosowenko / Nick Nosowenko

Kodiac Gal / Gary Barber / Mark Casse

Lapinski / Godolphin Racing LLC / Michael Stidham

Olive Branch / Ralph M. Evans / Richard A. Violette, Jr.

Red Lodge / Head of Plains Partners LLC & Hat Creek Racing / Wes Ward

Stormy Perfection / Charles E. Fipke / Michael J. Doyle

Tapa Tapa Tapa / Beau Ravine LLC / Timothy Hamm

The Craic / Dura Racing & M.J. Doyle Racing Stables LLC. / Michael J. Doyle

Thora Barber / Team Valor International / Mark Casse

Victory to Victory / Live Oak Plantation / Mark Casse

Horse/Owner/Trainer/

Berks County / Matthew Schera / Carlos Martin

Channel Maker / Joey Gee Thoroughbreds / Dan Vella

Conquest Farenheit / Conquest Stables LLC. / Mark Casse

Conquest Sure Shot / Conquest Stables LLC. / Mark Casse

Good Samaritan / China Horse Club & WinStar Farm LLC / Bill Mott

Harlan's Harmony / Curragh Stables / John P. Terranova, II

Tiz a Slam / Chiefswood Stable / Roger Attfield

Woodbridge / G. Schickedanz & D. Howard / Mike Keogh