William T, who was entered as a supplemental contender, made a striking late surge to upset the heavy favorite Maycocks Bay and secure his first career stakes victory in the $175,000 Durham Cup (G3) on Saturday at Woodbine.
Under the guidance of regular jockey Fraser Aebly, William T tracked in third place on the inside as the field of five rounded the clubhouse turn, completing the opening quarter mile in 23.57 seconds.
Earlier in May, Maycocks Bay, owned by Godolphin and sired by Speightstown, commanded an easy lead to dominate a seven-horse field in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes at Woodbine, with Sofia Vives aboard. On Saturday, the 5-year-old chestnut gelding was ridden by Woodbine’s leading jockey Pietro Moran, who set the pace with half-mile and three-quarter mile fractions of 47.86 and 1:11.71, respectively, while facing pressure from 2025 King’s Plate Trial winner Sedburys Ghost.
Approaching the final three-sixteenths, Aebly and William T advanced along the inside rail to take second place, gaining first run on the 1-5 favorite Maycocks Bay. Within the last furlong, Aebly steered the Don MacRae-trained son of Frosted off the rail in pursuit of the leader, overtaking Maycocks Bay in the closing yards to win by a well-measured half-length.
The race, covering 1 1/16 miles on the main track for horses aged three and older, was completed in 1:42.54.
“This horse is a fighter,” said Aebly, who has ridden the gray/roan nine times in 11 starts, including all three of the horse’s wins. “He digs in every time I ride. I mean, he just fights for you every time.”
William T began his 4-year-old season with four consecutive second-place finishes sprinting. Out of the Hard Spun mare Upper Brass, the gray/roan broke through most recently stretching out to a mile and one-sixteenth route on the main track, winning by an impressive 5 1/4 lengths under Aebly.
Trainer Don MacRae decided to supplement William T to the Durham Cup based on a recommendation from a close friend and respected peer. “I’d like to thank Kevin Attard for pointing me in the right direction, the man, the myth, the legend himself,” MacRae said, who is enjoying another strong season at Woodbine. “We knew the field would be small. We took a shot, expecting maybe second or third, but when he angled out, everyone rooting for us was jumping. It was a good moment for sure.”
Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Inc and owned by Michael Lay, William T won his maiden race in July 2025, dominating by six lengths in a local two-turn route. That victory earned him a chance against winners in the King’s Plate, where he finished eighth before being given some time off.
“There was some jostling coming into the first turn of the King’s Plate,” MacRae explained. “He injured his sesamoid, the bone inside his ankle, and it swelled badly. When I returned to the barn, I was in tears,” the trainer recalled, crediting his veterinarian for the horse’s recovery. “I thought he was done. Kudos to Candace Allen and the team—they worked wonders on him. He just needed time off to mature.”
Purchased for $45,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, William T has now won his second straight route race, improving his record to 3-5-2 from 11 starts. This was also his third win in four career starts at this distance.
Listed at 3-1 on the morning line, William T was sent off at 7-2 odds and returned $9.70 for the win. Maycocks Bay finished second, followed by Sedburys Ghost in third, with War Court and Friendly Ghost rounding out the order.
Originally published by Paulick Report on September 20, 2026, in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Fan Take: William T’s upset victory highlights the excitement and unpredictability that keeps fans engaged in horse racing. It also signals the emergence of a strong contender who could add depth and drama to Canadian stakes races moving forward.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
