Woodbine Racetrack commemorated the 30 years of Patrick Husbands. The Barbados-born, Brampton-based racer displayed his talent that day, leading Witwatersrand to a commanding win in the Ruling Angel Stakes. Husbands had earlier in the day shown off another one of his vintage rides when he won a five-furlong turf dash by bringing Lantana Lady from last place and through traffic.
As one of Canada's all-time great riders and a knowledgeable horseman, Husbands will be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. He has been a longstanding friend and collaborator with trainer Mark Casse, helping to produce horses for him.
It was Husbands and Casse once more on a day when Woodbine invited the Brampton mayor, Patrick Brown, along with a slew of former horse racing business people and Woodbine staff, the majority of whom had only watched Husbands ride in the previous year or two.
Gary Barber's Kentucky-bred filly Witwatersrand was selected the 2023 Champion 2-year-old Filly in Canada at the Sovereign Awards. She had a fine little record last year with two wins, including a scorer in the Mazarine Stakes (G3).
However, the Filly Connect had a terrible winter, placing last in the six-horse Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park on dirt and then last in the 11-horse Florida Oaks on turf.
Seems like all she needed to regain her form was a little Woodbine, Tapeta, and Patrick Husbands.
Witwatersrand, who had started the $100,000 seven-furlong race from behind, allowed stablemate C C Royal to take the lead and held off Star Shoot Stakes winner Sabatini in second place. Husbands let Witwatersrand go along the rail following mild fractions of 23.25 and 46.57, and then he angled her out to split fillies. In a couple of seconds, the two had disappeared. Witwatersrand finished with a strong 94 Beyer Speed Figure after winning by four lengths in 1:21.99.
A $65,000 yearling bought by "Bobby D." at the September 2022 Keeneland yearling sale, Witwatersrand made its September debut for D J Stable and Casse's Quintessential Racing Florida. After winning, she was placed up for bid at the Fasig Tipton Digital Sale in October, where "Deputy" purchased her for $230,000.
This is Casse's second horse who goes by the moniker Witwatersrand. In 2007 he bred a son of Pico Central, a gelding that was never raced and went by that name.
Carta de Oro, a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, is the mare that won one of eight races this year, making this year's Witwatersrand her third foal and second winner. The grandsire of Connect and Carta de Oro, Smart Strike, is three generations inbred to Witwatersrand.