TORONTO, January 20, 2024 – Once a week, from January to April, Woodbine will profile a horse who had a life-changing impact on one of their closest connections in 2024. This week, trainer Angus Buntain and the horse who gave him a coveted milestone score. The win still feels as though it happened yesterday rather than the actual date, Oct. 20, for the man who watched Unbridled Weather take top prize in the Frost King Stakes. It was the first stakes victory for Buntain, owner Pier 1 Stable, and sire Prime Attraction, helping elevate the dark bay son of Unbridled’s Song to Canada’s No. 1 first-crop sire in 2024. Buntain launched his training career in 2015, winning four races, along with nine top three finishes from 18 starts. He campaigned homebred Krachenwagen, an Ontario-bred son of Head Chopper-Plantana, who contested the 2019 Queen’s Plate. The horse was named by Buntain’s daughter, Libby (she helps her father out at his barn on weekends), after the bumper cars she and her dad would ride at Canada’s Wonderland. Buntain would celebrate his second stakes win one week after the Frost King when Hunt Master eked out a neck triumph in the Overskate. Other notable horses over the years for Buntain include Ratface Macdougall, English Classic, and Youens. Unbridled Weather Bio Foaled: March 9, 2022 Sire: Prime Attraction Dam: Old Cooksville Starts: 4 Wins-Seconds-Thirds: 1-2-0 Earnings: $71,109 (U.S.) Notable races: Won the Frost King Stakes; second in the Bull Page Stakes Trainer: Angus Buntain Owner: Pier 1 Stables Exercise Rider: Emily Leech Breeder: Kanny Ng Unbridled Weather and Emily Leech Your first impressions of Unbridled Weather? “The first day I ever laid eyes on him was the day after the (2023 CTHS Ontario Premier Yearling) sale. The van arrived at the sales barn to take him to the farm. Six of us wrestled with him for two hours and we couldn’t even get him out of the stall, let alone onto the van. Woodbine gave us two more days to move him and two days later, with the help of Renaldo Holder, we got him on the van and to the farm where the horse was immediately gelded, thank goodness. Needless to say, I wasn’t overly impressed or optimistic after dealing with him the first few days.” What was it like when he worked for the first time? “His first work was in June, and he made time in :24.4 going two furlongs. It was rather eventful. His final work before his maiden race (on Aug. 24), however, was five furlongs on the turf and this was the first real clue he might be something. He was leading another Prime Attraction colt of mine, Saint Graal Cheval, into the turn when he bolted to the outside fence and was nearly pulled up. The rider corrected him and nearly caught Saint Graal Cheval at the wire. After all that, his final time was 1:00.1. It was not ideal, so I put on blinkers and sent him into the maiden race, where he finished a game second at 42-1.” What is your biggest takeaway from his Frost King win? “Watching him dig in and repel all foes to win – that scene is forever etched in my mind. Before the race, (jockey) Fraser Aebly and I agreed he should be forwardly placed. Fraser was super confident, and he told me, ‘We’ll be stakes winners today.’ And he was right. I was very proud of him and how he executed the plan and of course, I was very proud of Unbridled Weather.” Unbridled Weather winning the Frost King Stakes at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) What went through your mind when he walked towards you after the Frost King victory? “There were a number of emotions and thoughts going through my mind. First, was a sense of relief that I had gotten from him my first stakes win. Then there was a sense of sheer happiness for my owner, and my whole team who had worked so hard on him the whole season.” “Walking horses across to the infield winner’s circle is a really great feeling. And although she was unable to attend, I knew my daughter was watching and I was hoping she was proud of her ol’ Dad. And finally, I thought of my father, who passed away six years ago. He would have been proud to see me get into that infield winner’s circle as a trainer.” What are three words that best describe Unbridled Weather? “Determined. Competitive. Gritty.” How has he changed your life? “I never imagined Unbridled Weather would be my first stakes winner. However, he vaulted me into stakes-winning trainer status and has helped in getting me and my program of developing young horses some attention from both existing and new owners. Existing owners are reinvesting, and a couple of new owners are sending me some Ontario-sired 2-year-olds for next season. It’s important for trainers to have new horses coming into the barn.” Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
