TORONTO, September 19, 2026 – Supplemented William T surged late, to upset heavy favourite Maycocks Bay and score his first career stakes' win in the $175,000 Grade 3 Durham Cup at Woodbine.
Ridden by regular pilot Fraser Aebly, William T settled inside in third position as the field of five made their way around the clubhouse turn, through an opening quarter mile in :23.57. \u200b \u200b
In late May, Maycocks Bay, the Godolphin LLC owned son of Speightstown got an easy lead and wired a field of seven, with Sofia Vives up, to win the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes at the Toronto oval. \u200b \u200b On Saturday, Woodbine's leading rider Pietro Moran was aboard the five-year-old chestnut gelding, and the pair set the pace through a half mile in :47.86 and three-quarter mile time of 1:11.71, while being pressured from close range by 2025 King's Plate Trial winner Sedburys Ghost. \u200b \u200b
Inside the three-sixteenths pole, Aebly and William T moved into second along the rail, getting first run on the favourite. A furlong out, Aebly and the Don MacRae-trained son of Frosted, angled off the fence, taking dead aim at Maycocks Bay, collaring the leader in the final yards to win by a well measured half-length. \u200b \u200b \u200b
The final running time in the one mile and one-sixteenth main track test for three-year-olds and upward was 1:42.54. The mile split was 1:35.95. \u200b \u200b
"This horse is a fighter," said Aebly, who has now ridden the grey/roan in nine of his eleven career starts and been aboard for all three wins. \u200b \u200b
"He digs in every time I ride. I mean, he just fights for you every time."
William T opened his 4-year-old campaign with four straight runner up placings while sprinting. \u200b Out of the Hard Spun mare Upper Brass, the grey/roan broke through last out when stretching out to a one mile and one-sixteenth main track route, airing by 5 1/4 lengths under Aebly.
The decision by MacRae to supplement to the Grade 3 Durham, came from a close friend and peer. \u200b \u200b
"I'd like to thank Kevin Attard for pointing me in the direction, the man, the myth, the legend himself," said MacRae, who himself is enjoying another productive season at Woodbine. \u200b \u200b
"We knew who was going in here. It was going to be a small field. We take a shot, but I thought it could be third or second for sure. But when he angled out, everyone up there was screaming for us. So it was a good time for sure." \u200b \u200b
Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Inc and owned by Michael Lay, William T broke his maiden in July 2025 airing by six lengths in a local two turn route, which earned him a shot against winners in the King's Plate, where he finished eighth and then was given some time off. \u200b \u200b \u200b \u200b
"There was a bit of jostling into the first turn [in the King's Plate], explained MacRae.
"He whacked his sesamoid, the bone on the inside of his ankle, and he came back, and it was blown up. And I got back to the barn. I was in tears," said the conditioner, who credited his veterinarian for the gelding's recovery. \u200b \u200b
"I thought he was done. Kudos to Candace Allen and the team. They worked on him on that. He just needs that time off to grow up."
A $45,000 purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, William T won his second consecutive route race, improving to 3-5-2 from 11 lifetime starts. It was also his third win in four career starts at the distance. \u200b \u200b \u200b
William T was listed at 3-1 morning line, left the gate at 7-2 and returned $9.70 for the win. \u200b \u200b \u200b Maycocks Bay finished 2nd. Sedburys Ghost was 3rd and War Court was 4th. \u200b \u200b \u200b
Phil McSween, for Woodbine
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