Nathan Sobey knows exactly what he has to do to win Saturday’s $90,000 Shirley McClellan stakes at Calgary’s Century Downs: beat Custard Dolce.

“It’s a big challenge to try and collar Custard Dolce,” said Sobey, who will try and do just that with Mademechangemymind.

“Custard Dolce has proven that she can do it any way she wants: cut it; come from behind… She’s a very versatile horse. A very talented, special versatile horse.

“It will take a trip or catch her on an off day to beat her.

“Everyone in the big race (the McClellan) looks at Custard Dolce as the major factor,” said Sobey, who has twice been named Alberta’s Trainer-Of-The-Year including 2021 when he finished fifth in Canada with a .445 Universal Trainer Rating and sixth in Canada with a Universal Driver Rating of .371.

Mademechangemymind hasn’t been able to topple Custard Dolce in four previous meetings.

But she’s been close - including missing by just a length in their last meeting, the $54,900 Diamond Stake Final on May 31 when Custard Dolce wore down Mademechangemymind in midstretch.

“Mademechangemymind did her best to fight off Custard Dolce but it wasn’t quite enough.

“Custard Dolce is a tremendous animal. If I finish second to her and I’m close I’m happy.

“I put Custard Dolce up there with Outlawguns N Roses and Divine Art,” Sobey said of two former champions - the latter a horse he trained and drove.

“Things would have to go perfect to beat her.

“Mademechangemymind has done everything I’ve asked and more,” said Sobey, who bought the three-year-old filly after the Alberta Yearling Sale for an undisclosed price.

It was almost a very short career. In her very first start Mademechangemymind was interfered with when a horse made a bobble at the head of the lane. Mademechangemymind got hit from behind and fell.

Fortunately, she emerged unscathed and three weeks later was not only racing again but winning the Starlet stakes.

“I’m very pleased with her,” said Sobey. “Especially given how her career started. For a two-year-old to over come that - especially mentally - was amazing.”

Mademechangemymind also came out of Sunday’s race real good.

“But, Custard Dolce is in a class of her own. She’s everything you want a race horse to be.

“If it happens, it happens; it’s a horse race,” said Sobey. “There’s no pressure.”

Mademechangemymind exits a powerful prep race - probably the best race of her career - this past Sunday coming from last place to win going away in a career-best-equalling 1:55 2/5 against older mares.

“It was a perfect prep race,” said Sobey. “She got away last on purpose - I didn’t want to leave out of the outside post. I had zero intentions of having her in the race early.”

Coming first over, Mademechangemymind easily swept past the 1-4 favourite Georgia Hanover to win comfortably.

“We all know that she can cut a mile but on Sunday she proved she can come from off the pace.

“I touched the right line and she went by them all.

“She was brave and happy and didn’t have to step out too much,” said Sobey, who will also have Ima Rum Runner in Saturday’s co-feature - the $90,000 Moores Mile for three-year-old colts and geldings.

“Like I said it was a perfect prep race.”

But - and it’s a big, big but - she still has Custard Dolce to overhaul - a horse who has won 10 in a row with her only career-loss coming in her first start.

“Every horse gets beat,” said trainer/driver Jamie Gray, who also co-owns Custard Dolce - bought for $26,500 at the Alberta Yearling Sale with Max Gibb and Derek Wilson - two guys who have won just about every race they’ve been involved with.

“As Promised - back in the day - got beat; Shark Week got beat this year.

“It’s just a matter of time.”

Because of race cancellations - weather - and not wanting to race Custard Dolce against older mares Custard Dolce hasn’t raced in three weeks.

“It’s a long time between starts; I’m not going to lie,” said Gray.

“Spreading her starts out like this is a little too much for my liking.”

Two weeks ago, Gray was concerned.

“She was struggling and she looked terrible. She wasn’t eating. She wasn’t drinking enough. I changed her diet three times. Then I found out that she liked straight grain. She cleans it up like there is no tomorrow. She’s put weight back on. She’s shiny. She looks great.”

Sobey thinks so too.

“I know she has trained good. When Custard Dolce is on the track everybody knows who she is. It’s hard to miss her.

“She’s coming in as good - probably even better than any horse. It’s not going to be an easy task.”

Gray, who was named Alberta’s Horseman of the Year, has had numerous top horses but he said Custard Dolce is the toughest horse he’s ever trained.

“She never gets a trip. She has to do it all on her own.

“I’ve never seen a filly that comes first out every week.

“It was the same as when she was a two-year-old. She’s tough as nails. It’s quite remarkable.”

STOCK REPORT - There are two stakes races on Saturday’s card at Century Mile: the Spangled Jimmy for older horses which has attracted the top two finishers in the May 31 Journal Handicap - Al Reichert and Uncharacteristic - and the inaugural Red McKenzie Handicap for older fillies and mares where 2024 Horse of the Year Big Hug will be heavily favoured.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow me on X (Twitter) at CurtisJStock and on Facebook
Author: The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty.