King’s Plate 2025 at Woodbine

Saturday sees the 166th running of the $1m King’s Plate at Woodbine, the third under this reign of King Charles III, and its Tom’s Magic who coming off victory in the Tale of The Cat Stakes.

Now stepping up to Grade 1, its Tom’s Magic saying ‘its time’ with a 1½ length victory in 1-42.58s for the Tale of The Cat over 8½ furlongs on turf at Monmouth Park for trainer Mike Stidham.

 And with Canada’s Sovereign Award jockey Manuel Hemandez booked to ride, he’s looking for his fourth Plate success and having won last year on Caitlinhergrtness, has drawn Gate 11.

This being his first start on a Tapeta track, he’s now three wins from five starts, having won the Black Gold Stakes at Turf Paradise in March and having broken his 2yo maiden over 1m½f.

Now classed as a two-turn turf ‘closer,’ Tom’s Magic is priced at $6 with Australian wide agencies, and races in the blue and light blue hoops silks of CJ Thoroughbreds and Mo Speed Racing.

“I’m not a history buff on Woodbine or the King’s Plate, but I know it’s the most prestigious Thoroughbred race in Canada’”, said Mike Renfro, Business Vice President for CJ Thoroughbreds.

“Its the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, in its 166th year, and that it’s a great honour to have a horse in the race,” continued Mike, who previously was 12 years with Lone Star Park, Texas.

Needing no introduction in the ‘Land of The NFL’ Mike Renfro starred in a 11 year career with the Houston Oilers and Dallas Cowboys, and a true Texan attended Texas Christian University. 

Retiring from football in 1988, Mike purchased his first horse – a ‘cheap Louisiana-bred gelding named Dr. Death, who went on to be the Louisiana-bred Horse of The Year in that same season.

“I just thought, ‘what a swell life I get to live – make it to the NFL, playing 11 years and go right into the sport of kings, and have a winner – I couldn’t have been more blessed,” Mike stated.

Bred in Ontario by Sean and Doroyhy Fitzhenry, victory can assure a stallion career for Mike’s Magic in being by world renown Justify, who in 2024 had City of Troy as the World’s Best Racehorse.

A $200,00 buy at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearlings, he’s half-brother to the Woodbine Oaks winner Dixie Moon and Guy Caballero, from stakes placed winner Dixie Chicken, by Rathy.

With the Prince of Wales Stakes and Breeders’ Stakes to later form the Canadian Triple Crown, the King’s Plate is run over 1m2f at Woodbine  for Canadian-bred 3yo colts, fillies and geldings.

Stepping out as the $4.50 face favourite, No Time is a last start winner of the Woodbine Oaks, and will be again ridden by John Velazquez for Gary Barber and Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. 

With the same three combining with Wonder Gadot in 2018 to win the Queen’s Plate, No Time now has a 8:3-0-1 career record having twice won over 1m½f at Woodbine as a 2yo and 3yo.

Bred by James and Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse, she’s by the outstanding sire Not This Time, and is half-sister to Grade 1 winners Count Again and sire Ranson the Moon. 

With No Time drawing Gate 10 of the 13 runners, it’s the $7 third pick Sedbury Ghost who has drawn 12 for Ryan Munger and trainer Barbara Marshall having won the Plate Trial Stakes of 1m1f.

Now the winner of three of five starts, he is home-bred by Yawen Wu, being by leading Canadian Freshman Sire Sharman Ghost from the family of Selva, Vanzzy and Hurrricane Clair.