Sunbird a 'completely happy horse' after huge B.C. Cup win at Hastings

Sunbird is owned by Pauline Felicella and the property of her late husband Nick Felicella. They ran Nick’s Spaghetti Home on Industrial Drive for many years.

Article content material

Sunbird remained undefeated and punched his ticket to the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Century Mile on Aug. 26 with a powerful victory within the Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial at Hastings Racecourse final Monday. The 1-1/16 mile Churchill was one in every of six $50,000 stakes races that made up the majority of the B.C. Cup card.

Commercial 2

Article content material

In response to Sunbird’s coach, Terry Jordan, the victory by the three-year-old son of Orb made a “couple of aged individuals really feel good.”

Article content material

Jordan, 81, is completely happy to be alive after successful a battle with colon most cancers a few years in the past.

“I’ve my good days and unhealthy days,” he mentioned. “I’d have by no means made it with out the help of Anita. She is the Queen of the Fort.”

Jordan was referring to his longtime associate, Anita Bolton, additionally a superb coach.

Sunbird is owned by Pauline Felicella and the property of her late husband Nick Felicella, who handed away in January.

“Mrs. Felicella is approaching 90,” mentioned Jordan. “She was thrilled Nick was round to get his image taken when Sunbird received the Ascot Commencement final 12 months, and the win Monday actually picked her spirits up. The horse means so much to her.”

Article content material

Commercial 3

Article content material

The Felicellas owned and operated the favored restaurant Nick’s Spaghetti Home on Industrial Drive between 1955 and 2017. Probably the most completed horse they owned was Spaghetti Mouse who compiled a powerful 12-15-8 file from 52 begins, all at Hastings, for earnings of $929,850.

“A month after I purchased Sunbird for them, I instructed Mrs. Felicella he was a greater horse than Spaghetti Mouse,” mentioned Jordan. “Spaghetti Mouse was her pet, so she didn’t consider me. Sunbird has so much to show, however he’s a fairly particular horse.”

Jordan thought of working Sunbird within the $125,000 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg. The Manitoba Derby, additionally held final Monday, is the primary race within the Western Canadian Triple Crown, which incorporates the Canadian Derby and British Columbia Derby. A $100,000 bonus is awarded if a horse wins all three races. After trying on the nominations, significantly Heroic Transfer, Jordan determined to remain dwelling. Following the upset of closely favoured Heroic Transfer by Mano Dura, Jordan didn’t remorse the choice.

Commercial 4

Article content material

“Sunbird had only one begin this 12 months and wasn’t able to ship to Winnipeg to run a mile and an eighth over a deep monitor,” he mentioned. “He got here out of his race in wonderful form and we’re heading to Alberta on Friday to get him prepared for the Canadian Derby. We gave up the prospect to win the $100,000 bonus, however we did what was proper for the horse. He’s a contented horse proper now, and we’re going to attempt to maintain him that approach.”

FRIDAY SELECTIONS

Race 4: The Rob VanOverschot-trained Desired Consequence stretches out to a center distance for the primary time and contemplating all 4 of his siblings to race are route winners, he ought to be capable to deal with the task. The British Columbia-bred son of Ralis should catch Brian’s de Leight who seems like the primary pace and might be gone if he breaks alertly with Antonio Reyes aboard.

Commercial 5

Article content material

RACE 6: Arikara steps up at school however she is as sharp as a tack with back-to-back wins for final 12 months’s main house owners Rob and Sheena Maybin. Different pace within the discipline won’t make her process straightforward, however she is able to stalking and with a affected person experience by Ridge Balgobin she might full the hat trick.


Summer season subscription sale: Our in-depth journalism is feasible due to the help of our subscribers. For a restricted time, you may get full on-line entry to the Vancouver Solar and The Province, together with the Nationwide Submit and 13 different Canadian information websites, for simply $40 for one 12 months or $1 per week for 52 weeks. Help our journalism by subscribing as we speak: The Vancouver Solar | The Province.

Try our sports activities part for the most recent information and evaluation. Take care of a wager? Head to our sports activities betting part for information and odds.

Article content material

Feedback

Postmedia is dedicated to sustaining a energetic however civil discussion board for dialogue and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Feedback might take as much as an hour for moderation earlier than showing on the location. We ask you to maintain your feedback related and respectful. We now have enabled e mail notifications—you’ll now obtain an e mail when you obtain a reply to your remark, there’s an replace to a remark thread you observe or if a consumer you observe feedback. Go to our Group Pointers for extra info and particulars on find out how to regulate your e mail settings.

Be part of the Dialog

Commercial 1


Posted

in

by