Moira and Flavien Prat win from Cinderella's Dream © Photo Healy Racing
Time ran out for Charlie Appleby’s Cinderella’s Dream in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf with her late thrust in vain, as Moira landed the spoils at Del Mar.
The Moulton Paddocks handler won this contest with Wuheida in 2017, but there was not to be a repeat with both his Cinderella’s Dream and Beautiful Love out of luck in California.
Kevin Attard’s runner had finished behind stablemate Full Count Felicia in Woodbine’s E P Taylor Stakes in September, but with the latter setting the pace, Flavien Pratt aboard the Canadian-trained scorer was able to position his mount in the perfect position as the contest entered the final turn.
With William Buick on Cinderella’s Dream trapped on the inside with nowhere to go, Pratt and Moira were able to set sail for home unchallenged and although the Godolphin-owned favourite finished with a flourish, Moira could not be reeled in.
Didia was a close-up third with Cinderella’s Dream’s stablemate Beautiful Love, in the hands of Oisin Murphy, fourth.
Attard said: “She’s just a very special horse and very deserving of this. I’m lost for words and emotional right now.
“It’s a dream come true and I’m so happy for her because she’s had some tough luck in Grade Ones and today she has proved she is the best turf horse in the world.
“These are things you dream of as a kid, wanting to be a trainer. I have to thank the connections for entrusting me with her and obviously my staff for bringing me to this point in my career. It’s a team effort and I have a lot of people behind me and obviously the jockey did a great job.”
On the performance of the runner-up, Buick said: “I had a good trip off a slow pace. I decided to wait, but I didn’t get the split in time.
“She hadn’t done the trip before so I tried to save everything I could.”
