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TORONTO, ON – Corelli, under a perfectly-judged ride by Kazushi Kimura, took charge in deep stretch and strolled home a 1 ¾-length winner in Saturday’s $160,800 Singspiel Stakes (G3), run over 1 ¼-miles on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
“Today we got a very bad [post] position, that’s why I focused on the one move,” said Kimura, who had started from the outside. “I’d like to just switch him to the inside, focus on keeping him comfortable. He made a steady pace and just moved so well.”
Corelli, who was giving his trainer Jonathan Thomas his first Canadian victory, had sat patiently towards the rear of the eight-horse field as longshot Peace of Ekati set the pace with 5-2 second choice Belichick keeping close order through a quarter in :25.90, half in :50.55, and six furlongs in 1:14.91.
Belichick moved to the lead in early stretch, holding a half-length advantage through a mile in 1:38.51 and a half-length margin with a furlong to run.
Corelli was on the march, however, and finding a seam in midstretch, was quick to seize the advantage and held the closing English Conqueror at bay while finishing in 2:01.70 over firm ground.
“I watch all the time before the race what’s in the program, watching the horse, watching the jockeys,” said Kimura. “Just hoping that I’d get room [in the stretch]. And I did it.”
English Conqueror, an 11-1 shot, stalked from towards the rear of the field was up to gain the place by a length over Belichick.
Theregoesjojo, at 9-1, was in touch throughout and missed third money by just a neck.
Primo Touch, Peace of Ekati, the 9-5 favourite Eons, and Woodbridge, completed the order of finish.
Corelli, a 6-year-old gelding, is a homebred who races for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable. Bred in Kentucky, Corelli is by Point of Entry out of the Diesis mare, Vignette, and was recording his first graded stakes score in the Singspiel.
A three-time winner in England, Corelli relocated to North America in 2020, placing in last year’s Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park, and won the listed Henry S. Clark at Pimlico in his 2021 opener.
“He’s a classy horse,” said Kimura. “I’m so appreciative to the owner and the trainer, and I hope I get another mount on him.”
The 7-2 third choice, Corelli returned $9.80 and topped a $104.40 exactor with English Conqueror. The $1 trifecta with Belichick came back at $206.35, and Theregoesjojo bottomed a $1 superfecta of $1,120.15.
