Moira Readies for '23 Campaign at Margaux Farm

Moira  electrified the racing world with a dominating seven-length romp against males in the 2022 $1 million Queen’s Plate last summer at Woodbine. Becoming only the 10th filly to capture the Canadian classic since 1962, the daughter of Ghostzapper   continued to impress in her final two efforts with a neck loss (where she was later placed eighth upon disqualification) to the older Rougir  in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) and a nearly last-to-fifth place finish against the top turf fillies around the globe in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).

Following her historic sophomore campaign, Moira returned to her home away from home, Jim and Susan Hill’s Margaux Farm in Midway, Ky. This would be Moira’s third stint at Margaux, as the filly was sent to the farm as a yearling for her early lessons and wintered at Margaux again last year between her 2- and 3-year-old seasons.

WATCH: Queen's Plate Winner Moira Winters at Margaux Farm

Margaux trainer Dermot Littlefield has been a firsthand witness to the filly’s progress over the years, having initially laid eyes on her in the fall of 2020 after part-owner Donato Lanni of X-Men Racing purchased the leggy bay for $150,000 out of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

"From when she was a 2-year-old to now she’s mentally a lot more clued into the game," Littlefield said of Moira. "She takes her training and everything very seriously. She’s grown, even from 3 to 4 she’s probably grown 2-3 inches since she’s been here (this past winter). She’s matured physically to the filly we have here today."

After the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, Moira enjoyed a tenure of turnout time in the Kentucky bluegrass before renewing her training at the beginning of January.

"She’s back up to galloping now and ready to start doing some speed work again. She’s a filly where the more she does the better she seems to get," Littlefield said. “She’s taken a nice hold galloping, she’s keen, she enjoys her job. We’re happy with her and we're happy with the direction she’s going. Our goal is to get her back to the Kevin Attard barn at Woodbine in hopefully early April."

Moira, owned in a partnership that includes X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing, is a likely favorite to bring home two accolades at the April 13 Sovereign Awards for her 2022 exploits—one for champion 3-year-old filly as well as the ultimate prize, being crowned Canadian Horse of the Year.

In addition to her thrilling Queen’s Plate triumph, Moira cemented her place as the queen of her division last spring with a game win in the Fury Stakes to kick off her 3-year-old year followed by a 10 3/4-length romp in the Woodbine Oaks. The Ontario-bred nearly ended her season as a millionaire, a mark which seems surely within her reach this year. She boasts $968,282 in earnings from four wins in nine career starts to date.

An older and more mature Moira looks to recapture that brilliance come the beginning of the Woodbine meet, which commences April 22.