The fifth start of the career of Sedbury’s Ghost was a revelation.
The gelding by Shaman Ghost, which won the Queen’s Plate 10 years ago, launched himself into major contention for the King’s Plate next month at Woodbine after an easy win in the Plate Trial July 20.
Nobody really knows what a Sedbury is, and the chestnut was only 10 to 1 in the morning line, 7 to 1 in the final flash, but he rumbled from mid-pack to win by a length, holding off favoured Notorious Gangster by a length with another favourite, Scorching close on their heels.
Sedbury’s Ghost won in 1:50.37 while No Time later won the Woodbine Oaks in 1:50.14. But although No Time won the Oaks in domineering fashion in a slightly quicker time, she ran her final quarter in 26.06 seconds, while Sedbury’s Ghost steamed along in 24.77.
There was plenty to get excited about in the field before Sedbury’s Ghost interrupted them all. Scorching, from the barn of John Charalambous, had raced only four times, but made good use of that time, winning the Simcoe Stakes and finishing second in the Cup and Saucer Stakes as a 2-year-old and finishing second to Mansetti in the Marine Stakes three weeks ago.
Notorious Gangster, an ebony-coated son of Classic Empire, had won the Coronation Futurity last year and the 7-furlong Queenston this year. But he drew the outside 10th post in the Plate Trial.
Dewolf is a magnificent looking thing by Silent Name, who announced his presence on the scene last year in a big way, winning the Bull Page, finishing third in the Cup and Saucer, second in the Grey Stakes, and second in the Coronation Futurity. And in his first and only start this year, he was third in the Queenston.
Sedbury’s Ghost had started in only three overnight races and then finished fourth in the Marine. But that fourth was better than it looked, enough to give owner Yawen We and trainer Barb Minshall confidence.
The thing about Sedbury’s Ghost is that his owner bred him from one of only five broodmares that she has at her farm. And Sedbury’s Ghost’s dam, Hurricane Mimi, a daughter of Sligo Bary, won three races of 28 starts in her career, trained by Ross Armata. And with $171,078 in the filly’s bank account, Wu bred her to an Ontario sire – Shaman Ghost.
Shaman Ghost was no small achiever, having gone far afield from the Queen’s Plate to win the Woodward Stakes in 2016, the Santa Anita Handicap and the Pimlico Special. He was second in the Pegasus World Cup, which at the time was the richest race in the world. He finished second to Arrogate and still earned $1.75-milllion. Shaman Ghost retired in 2017.
Shaman Ghost started only twice as a 2-year-old with trainer Brian Lynch saying he was a slow learner and hardly precocious. Sedbury’s Ghost started only twice as a 2-year-old, but Minshall said he was always special.
“Absolutely,” she said. “Right from the beginning.
“When we first started training him, I told Yawen: “I think we have a pretty nice horse here.’
“He was Ontario-sired so we got to run in a couple of those races and start off the year in an Ontario race [which he won by 3 ¼ lengths.]”
Minshall thought he had a bit of a troubled trip in the Marine, coming from sixth place early to finish fourth to Mansetti and Scorching. “He could have won that as well as any of the horses,” she said. “I was real confident going here and he’s trained spectacular.”
She – with Wu – also has a nice 2-year-old full sister to Sedbury’s Ghost, and another in the wings. All bred by Wu.
The pace was quick in the Plate Trial with Scorching and Unbridled Weather going at it, with a first quarter in 22.84, a half in 47.22. Minshall liked the sight of that. She knew her horse would close.
“Ryan [Munger] found a good trip,” she said. “I knew if he found a clean run at the top of the lane, he would. I was really confident of him today.”
Dewolf ended up sixth.
Wu admitted that you struggle to make a mark with only five mares, but now she feels confident at what she has. “I’m thinking I will probably invest more,” she said.
She’s happy to have met Minshall, with whom she has a good relationship – which matters to her. “We communicate,” she said. “That’s very important.”
She gives all credit to Minshall and her crew at the farm who takes care of her horses.
At the beginning of this season, Wu had no idea what awaited her.
And by the way, Sedbury is a village in Glouchestershire in England. It sits in a historical location, near ditches and dykes built in the 8th century by an Anglo-Saxon king. Undoubtedly, there are lots of ghosts there. Sedbury’s Ghost may stir up a few more in these parts.
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