Grooms with a View: Fall Turf Showcase edition

This Saturday features multiple prestigious stakes races – the Canadian International (G1T), the Nearctic Stakes presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2T), and the bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T).

Ahead of the busy day, four grooms with horses in one of the three iconic races share their bond with the horses they care for.

Caitlinhergrtness

Caitlinhergrtness is competing in the Dance Smartly Stakes. The 2024 King’s Plate winner is trained by Kevin Attard and owned by WinStar Farm LLC, and Fraser Aebly is the jockey. Troy Garnett is the filly’s groom and has been since she came to Woodbine. Garnett has worked for Attard since March of 2009.

“She’s a really nice filly, she’s classy and very easy to deal with,” said Garnett. “She’s not a mean horse; she’s very easy to work with.”

Caitlinhergrtness knows when it’s race day and loves her job as a racehorse.

“The minute she gets race-ready, she gets kind of sharp, but not in a mean way, she’s just expressing herself, letting you know that she’s ready to go.”

“She’s so classy about everything; she doesn’t get herself worked up. She does her job with grace. She doesn’t get flustered. She saves all of her energy for the track.

“Her class comes with her ability to run and put it all out when she’s out there. It goes to show that good horses can be classy and fun to be around, but they know their job, and they go out and execute it. As long as she executes her job, it’s a joy to me. I’ve been around her for a long time, so I know what to look for, what attributes to look for in her to know when she’s ready to run.”

Garnett reflected on her 2024 King’s Plate win.

“It was a very exciting time. The Plate is one of the biggest races in Canada, and to get a horse of her calibre and to work with her and to get her to that point to win the Plate, it was very enjoyable. I was very happy. It was rewarding for all of the years you put in to get a chance to win a race like that, and to pull it off, it was a great feeling.”

Garnett and Caitlinhergrtness share an extremely strong bond.

“She knows me. She only tries things with me because she knows she will get away with it. I can work with her, work around her; she wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.

“I pick her up from the track every single morning. When she sees me from a distance, you can see she’s antsy. I feel like she’s looking for me. She’ll be walking cool, then when she sees me, she picks up her head and starts jogging. I always have a handful of grass for her, so she looks forward to that.”

Garnett is looking forward to the upcoming Dance Smartly Stakes.

“I’m very, very excited. She’s training amazing right now. I’m expecting a really big one from her. She’s really ready to go. I’m excited to watch her go.”

Tosen Wish (IRE)

Tosen Wish is a gelding from Ireland trained by Mark Casse and owned by Team Valor International LLC. Fraser Aebly is the jockey for the Canadian International.

Dennis Miller, who has worked at Woodbine for 43 years and at the barn Casse for six years, is the groom.

Miller describes Tosen Wish as easygoing and one of his favourite horses that he grooms.

“He’s a very kind horse. He’s very, very easy to work with. He gives you 110 percent every time he runs. He’s kind of a barn favourite here.”

Miller shares that his connection with Tosen Wish is one of deep understanding.

“I think we really understand each other. He’s kind, and he does everything I want him to do.”

As for what makes Tosen Wish special?

“His heart. He’s a small horse, but he doesn’t know he’s small. And he goes out there and gives you 110% every time.”

Miller is looking forward to the Canadian International. “

I’m excited. I’m a little nervous. I think he’ll give me 110%.”

My Boy Prince

My Boy Prince, Casse’s second horse in the Canadian International, is owned by Gary Barber, with Pietro Moran set to ride in the. Ivan “Billy” Forde grooms the gelding. Ivafore has worked for Mark Casse since he started working at Woodbine 20 years ago.

Forde describes the gelding as unassuming and professional.

“My Boy Prince is an easy horse to get along with. He’s quiet. He carries himself good.”

Forde and My Boy Prince share a special bond and history.

“It’s a good bond, you know? He’s a special horse. He’s nice, cool, and calm.”

“He’s got talent. I went to the sale with Robert (McMartin), and he picked out the horse, and I liked him at the sale. He’s special, and he shows his talent on the track too.”

Ahead of the Canadian International, Forde has confidence in the gelding.

“He ran his Grade I race, whatever distance he’s run at, he’s shown that he can get there. We just got to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.”

Raptor’s (BRZ)

Raptor’s is a Brazilian gelding trained by Mark Casse and owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch. Javier Castellano is the jockey for the Canadian International. Dean Barrett is the groom and has worked for Mark Casse at Woodbine since the 1990s.

“He’s a very nice horse, and he’s very nice to work with,” said Barrett. “I love the way he’s shaped. He has a really nice shape. He’s cool.

“He’s a nice house to work with. All the horses are my favourites. I love working with the horses.”

Raptor’s is particular with his treats.

“He likes to eat carrots. I tried to give him apples, but he doesn’t eat them, just carrots.

“He sticks to his stall; he’s not pushing out his head. He’s waiting for me to curry comb him right now.

On race day, Raptor’s is calm.

“He doesn’t give any problems at all. He’s a very nice horse.”

Barrett shared how much he enjoys working with the horses and how strong the community at Casse’s barn is, and the Woodbine community as a whole.

“David (Adams) has been my friend for a long time. And he’s the assistant to Mark. So, I get along with everyone here, too. It is a nice barn to work in.”

-30-

Sophie Charalambous, for Woodbine