SLADE CALLAGHAN WINS

$1 MILLION WOODBINE MILE (GR.1. - CAN)
 

BY CHARLIE HEATH

RAHY'S ATTORNEY  and Barbadian jockey Slade Callaghan delivered a stunning performance on Sunday September 6, 2008 when winning the Candian $1-million Woodbine Mile, in Toronto, Canada.

The Canadian owned and bred 4-year-old gelding went off as a long shot at 12-1 and collected an extra bonus of Can $60,000 for being Canadian bred taking his earnings in the race to Can$660,000.00.

From the off Callaghan put the Ian Black trained gelding in third position on the rail just off the pace in the one mile turf event, however on coming off the turn Callaghan made a bold move by putting RAHY'S ATTORNEY into the lead.

He was followed by race favourite KIP DEVILLE, the best miler in North America, who was coming off of three straight wins, but Callaghan's move proved to be a master stroke as KIP DEVILLE could not keep up and he faded into fifth place while RAHY'S ATTORNEY stormed down the straight to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The filly VENTURA was second with JUST RUSHING third and ICE BEAR fourth.

Callaghan said they were going a bit slow for his liking approaching the turn for home so he decided it was the right time to pick up the pace as his horse was going real well and could also stay the trip so that is why he picked up the running as early as he did. The time of the race was 1.36.14.

Trainer Ian Black thought that when Callaghan picked up the race as early as he did that it might have been a bit soon, but it proved to be the right move and a great ride by Callaghan the trainer said.

RAHY'S ATTORNEY paid Can$27.30 to win.

The Barbadian jockey said it was the biggest win in his career and it certainly was although he had won the Can $500,000 Breeders' Cup Stakes back in 2004.

The win for Callaghan had to be special as racefans in Barbados will remember when back in 1987 doctors told him after he had a very serious riding accident that it would be the end of his riding career.

He would have none of it and worked very hard just to get back to the point of riding a horse far less race riding again. His dedication and will to race ride again pulled him through and on returning to ride sometime later he won the first race on his return. Now, some 21 years later he is still winning and at international level in an event that carried a purse of Can$1-million.

RAHY'S ATTORNEY'S win is now a dilemma that owners Ellie Bije Farms, Jim and Jean Mac Lellan, Mitch Peters and Dean Read will have to work out as the win made the gelding eligible to run in the Breeders' Cup Mile event next month at Santa Anita Park in California.