Idaho Tops Pattison Canadian International Field; Best In The World Leads E.P. Taylor

TORONTO, October 15 – Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who has attended four Queen’s Plates, will not be here Sunday but will be represented by her first Canadian runner with Dartmouth entered in Sunday’s $1 million Pattison Canadian International.

The Grade 1 Canadian International, a 1 ½ mile turf race for 3-year-olds and upward, attracted a field of nine.  In addition to the Pattison Canadian International, one of Canada’s richest thoroughbred races (the other $1 million races are the Queen’s Plate and Woodbine Mile), two other turf stakes will be showcased – the Grade 1, $500,000 E.P. Taylor, at one mile and one-quarter for fillies and mares and the Grade 2, $300,000 Nearctic at six furlongs.

The 79th edition of the International will go postward at 5:40 pm ET.  TSN1 will provide special live coverage across Canada from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm ET.  This marks the 14th year that Pattison Outdoor, Canada’s largest outdoor advertising company, has sponsored Woodbine’s turf classic, which rewards the winner with $600,000.

Dartmouth, a 4-year-old, will compete in a Canadian International which is comprised of four shippers from Europe, four from south of the border, and the locally-based Danish Dynaformer.

The colt is trained by Sir Michael Stoute and arrived here in the care of assistant Kerry Jones, who is well aware of the significance of her role.

“I find it actually nice (to have a horse running for the Queen) and I’m very proud to represent her,” said Jones.  “She’s a great ambassador for the sport and knows her horses.

“We treat them like any owner’s horses, but sometimes at the end of the day we do kind of think, ‘Oh please win for The Queen’.”

Dartmouth has been a model of consistency throughout his career but has displayed notable improvement this season and will be looking to become a Grade 1 winner here.

After winning back-to-back Group 3 stakes this spring, Dartmouth took the next step by defeating the classy Highland Reel in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot.

Third in a rematch there with Highland Reel in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Dartmouth had been away from the races for eight weeks when he finished second in the Group 3 Legacy Cup at Newbury on Sept. 17.

Dartmouth, the third choice at 7-2, will begin from post 5.

“He could sit anywhere in the race,” said Jones. “It’s not like he’ll struggle with the rider. He’s very laid-back; nothing fazes him.”

Stoute has won the last two runnings of the Canadian International, with Cannock Chase and Hillstar, and sent out Ask to finish second in 2007 and won the 1996 edition with Singspiel.

William Buick, riding in his third Canadian International with a fourth and a third to his credit, has the call on Dartmouth for the first time.

Also invading from across the ocean with strong credentials are Idaho, Protectionist, and Erupt.

Idaho, who is the 5-2 favorite on Woodbine oddsmaker Ernie Perri’s morning line, boasts high-octane connections in trainer Aidan O’Brien; owners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derek Smith; and jockey Ryan Moore.

The Irish-bred colt, who is a full brother to Highland Reel, also boasts a solid racing resume which includes a third-place finish in the Group 1 Epsom Derby, a second in the Irish Derby, and a sharp score in the Grade 2 Great Voltigeur at York.

In his last start, as the 3-5 favourite in the Group 1 St. Leger, Idaho stumbled when coming out to launch his rally and unseated rider Seamie Heffernan.

“He’s a well-balanced horse,” said Kieran Murphy, the traveling head lad who is here with Idaho. “You can ride him any way you want.”

Idaho will start from the 3-hole.

“That’s a good post for him,” said Murphy.

As the only 3-year-old in the field, Idaho will be getting seven pounds from his older rivals as the 119-pound lightweight.

Protectionist, the 3-1 second favorite, has rebounded in a big way at age six as he is three-for-three in his homeland with the latest success coming in the Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin.

Owned by Australian Bloodstock, Protectionist had traveled there to win the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in 2014 but failed to reproduce that form in eight starts Down Under last season.

Protectionist, who drew the outside post, is the leading money-winner in the field with more than $3.5 million in his 21-race career.

Protectionist is trained by Andreas Woehler, who sent out Paolini to finish second in the 2001 Canadian International.  Eduardo Pedroza , Protectionist’s regular rider in Germany, will be looking for his first Canadian International placing in his fourth visit.

Erupt (6-1), shipping from France for Flaxman Holdings and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, has been blanked in four starts this year while racing in Group 1 and Group 2 company. The 4-year-old Irish-bred colt did take Longchamp’s Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris last summer for his fourth win of 2015, however, and went on to finish on the edges in highly competitive editions of the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Group 1 Japan Cup.

His Group 1 score was the first for trainer Graffard.

“He came into the race unbeaten and confirmed the promise he had shown,” said Graffard. “It was fantastic to see him quicken so well in the straight and this will remain an unforgettable day in my career as a racehorse trainer.”

Regular rider Stephane Pasquier will do the honors, starting from post 8.

Heading the American contingent will be The Pizza Man, Wake Forest and World Approval, who finished 1-2-3 when here last month for the Grade 1 Northern Dancer over the Canadian International course and distance.

The Pizza Man (8-1), the senior member of the field at age 7, was recapturing his best form there after becoming a Grade 1 winner just last year in the Arlington Million.

Owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. and trained by Roger Brueggemann, The Pizza Man responded for new rider Flavien Prat that day and the pair will be a team again Sunday.

“Everything’s good with him since then,” said trainer Roger Brueggmann, who will watch The Pizza Man break from post 4. “He’s doing real well.”

Wake Forest (10-1), a German-bred, moved over to Chad Brown’s barn last year after beginning his career in Germany and scoring twice in Group 3 races.

The 6-year-old has stepped up his game on these shores, winning Belmont’s Grade 1 Man O’ War and just missing a second such score when beaten a neck at Woodbine.

“He ran well over the course,” said trainer Chad Brown. “I’m sure this race will be tougher than his last race, competition-wise, but it seems logical to take a shot for a million dollars.”

In his start prior to the Northern Dancer Wake Forest had finished 10th, beaten 4 ½ lengths, in the Arlington Million.

“We never came up with any excuse for him; he just didn’t fire that day,” said Brown. “Other than that, he’s been consistent for us.”

Wake Forest, who will start from post six, is owned by Sheep Pond Partners, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Michael Dubb. Trainer Chad Brown and jockey Javier Castellano, both of whom top their respective standings in money won for North America, will be in Wake Forest’s corner.

Brown has sent out two Canadian International runners-up in Big Blue Kitten (2014) and Hyper (2013). Castellano rode longshot Marsh Side to victory in the 2008 edition.

World Approval (10-1), who missed by a total of a half-length when trying the mile and a half for the first time in the Northern Dancer, has been an improved runner this year at 4 and became a Grade 1 winner in the United Nations at Monmouth.

“I think he handled it fine—I just don’t know if that’s his preferred distance,” said trainer Mark Casse, of World Approval’s front-running Northern Dancer effort.

“It was a weirdly-run race. I know he prefers to have a little bit of a target.”

Owned and bred by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, World Approval will begin from post two and will be partnered by Julien Leparoux, who will be riding in his third Canadian International and finished fourth aboard The Pizza Man in 2014.

Taghleeb (20-1), a 5-year-old horse, will check in from Kentucky off a win in the 1 1/8-mile Remington Green at Remington Park. Claimed for $62,500 at Saratoga this summer, Taghleeb will be making his third start for owner Michael Hui and trainer Mike Maker.

“Taghleeb had run a mile and a quarter and when I got to training him and to know the horse a little better he gave that impression (that he could go further), so we thought we’d go ahead and try it,” said Maker. “He’s definitely got the pedigree for it. It will be his toughest test to date, but I think he deserves a chance.”

Florent Geroux rides Taghleeb, who will start from post 7.

Danish Dynaformer (10-1), trained by Roger Attfield for Charles Fipke, represents Canada’s chance in the Canadian International. The homebred 4-year-old colt who was beaten 3 ¼ lengths as the fifth-place finisher in the Northern Dancer, became a Grade 3 stakes winner in the Singspiel at 1 ½ miles on this turf course in July.

“It’s a great field, and it will be difficult to win,” said Attfield.  “But I  think if the turf is firm he’s going to run a competitive race.”

Joel Rosario will ride Danish Dynaformer for the first time and the pair will break from the No. 1 post.

FIELD FOR THE GRADE 1 $1-MILLION PATTISON CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL (9)

Post / Horse / Owner / Trainer / Jockey / M/L

1 / Danish Dynaformer / Charles Fipke / Roger Attfield / Joel Rosario / 20-1

2 / World Approval / Live Oak Plantation / Mark Casse / Julien Leparoux / 10-1

3 / Idaho / Mr. Michael B. Tabor, Mr. Derrick Smith & Mrs. John Magnier / Aidan P. O’Brien / Ryan Moore / 5-2

4 / The Pizza Man / Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. / Roger Brueggemann / Flavien Prat / 8-1

5 / Dartmouth / Her Majesty The Queen / Sir Michael Stoute / William Buick / 7-2

6 / Wake Forest / Sheep Pond Partners LLC, M. Dubb & Bethlehem Stables / Chad Brown / Javier Castellano / 10-1

7 / Taghleeb / Michael Hui / Michael Maker / Florent Geroux / 20-1

8 / Erupt / Flaxman Holdings, Ltd / Francis-Henri Graffard / Stephane Pasquier / 6-1

9 / Protectionist / Australian Bloodstock / Andreas Woehler / Andrea Atzeni / 3-1

BEST IN THE WORLD HEADLINES GRADE 1 E.P. TAYLOR

Best In The World, an improving 3-year-old filly with very high-profile connections and a formidable pedigree, is the 3-1 morning line choice in a field of 13 for Sunday’s E.P. Taylor Stakes.

The Grade 1 E.P. Taylor, a 1 ¼ mile turf race for fillies and mares, has attracted a highly competitive field comprised of six shippers from Europe, five from the United States, and two locals. Older fillies and mares will carry 124 pounds in the E.P. Taylor while the five 3-year-olds get in with 119.

Based in Ireland, Best In The World is owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith; trained by Aidan O’Brien; and ridden by Ryan Moore.  She also is a full sister to her stablemate Found, winner of the recent Group1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and of last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf.

After running well in her two starts at 2, Best of the World seemed slow to round into form this year but has picked it up recently with a Group 3 win at Cork and a second in the Grade 2 Blandford Stakes at the Curragh.

“She’s coming to herself all the time,” said Kieran Murphy, the traveling head lad for O’Brien who is here with Best In The World.

Best of the World drew post 3, which should allow her to employ whatever plan her rider puts into action.

“She’s pretty adaptable,” said Murphy.

Sunday’s E.P. Taylor will be the first for O’Brien, who has won the Canadian International twice. Moore won the 2015 Taylor with Curvy after finishing second aboard Odeliz the previous year. He also rode the winners of the last three Canadian Internationals.

Nezwaah and Swiss Range are 3-year-olds who hail from England.

Nezwaah, owned by Sheikh Ahmed al Maktoum and Godolphin Racing, has won three races on synthetic surfaces and ran fifth in her lone group stakes try on the turf. In her last start Nezwaah finished second, beaten a half-length, in the listed John Musker Stakes over about 1 ¼ miles of turf at Yarmouth. The winner, So Mi Dar, came back to finish a close third at odds-on in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at Chantilly. Arabian Queen, who finished three-quarters of a length behind Nezwaah.

“‘She’s gradually improved this year,” said Michael McGowan, traveling head lead for trainer Roger Varian, who sent out Talmada to finish second here in last year’s E.P. Taylor. “She was second to a good filly, and she came on for that. She has a big chance; she has a good turn of foot.”

Nezwaah will be the sixth mount here for Jockey Andreas Atzeni with a third aboard Seismos in the 2011 Canadian International his best result.

Swiss Range, a winner of two listed stakes at Newmarket this spring, made her next start in the Group 1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly and was only a 5.50-1 chance when beaten 3 ½ lengths as the ninth-place finisher behind the brilliant La Cressonniere. In her last outing, which came in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, Swiss Range was a non-threatening fourth for trainer John Gosden, who sent out Rainbow View to finish second in the 2009 running of the E.P. Taylor.

Multiple Group 1 winner Minding was the Nassau winner and Jemayel, also a Group 1 winner, was third.

Joel Rosario picks up the mount on Swiss Range, who is scheduled to go to trainer Bill Mott in New York following Sunday’s race. Rosario won the 2013 edition of the E.P. Taylor with Tannery.

The 3-year-old Aim to Please and 4-year-old Banzari are the French shippers for the E.P. Taylor.

Aim to Please, a Group 3 winner at Maisons-Lafitte last time out, had run third in a Group 2 at Chantilly this June after finishing 10th, but beaten just 4 /12 lengths, in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Deauville won by La Cressonnaire. Owned by Joerg Vasicek, Aim to Please will have her regular rider, Gerard Mosse, in the irons and is trained by Francois Doumen. This will be her first start outside France.

Mosse and Doumen teamed up to win the 2012 E.P. Taylor with Siyouma after finishing third with Dream Peace the previous season and second with Mousse Glacee in 1999.Both were also here twice with Jim and Tonic, the talented and popular world traveler who finished second in the 1998 Woodbine Mile and third the following season.

Bred in England, Banzari became a Group 3 winner at Maissons-Laffitte last month. Ame Bleue, the runner-up there, shipped t Belmont for the Oct. 8 Flower Bowl land finished last of six, beaten 6 ¾ lengths by the remarkable Lady Eli, in that 1 ¼ mile turf race. Banzari, trained by Henri-Francois Devin, was a recent private by celebrity chef Bobby Flay last week. She is trained by H.F. Devin and will be ridden by Alexis Badel.

Her best result to date was a Group 3 win at Maissons-Lafitte last month.

Parvaneh, a 3-year-old, has made all but the first of her eight career starts in her native Germany and became a Group 2 stakes winner in at Baden-Baden two races back.  In her subsequent appearance Parveneh ran fourth, beaten just two lengths, when facing males in the Group 1 Prix Von Europa. Flavien Prat will ride Parvaneh for trainer Waldemar Hickst.

Rainha da Bateria, who nosed out favored stablemate Dacita to win the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes here Sept. 17, tops a solid American contingent for the E.P. Taylor and is listed as the second favorite at 4-1.

Owned by Lael Stable and trained by Chad Brown, Rainha da Bateria came up with her best effort to date when beaten a pair of noses as the third-place finisher in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Diana. The Canadian, like the Diana, is a 1 1/8 mile turf race and Raina da Bateria confirmed her apparent improvement. She now will be trying a mile and a quarter for the first time.

“She’s getting it all together,” said Brown.  “She looks good. She’s developed into a really top class filly. “

Julien Leparoux retains the mount on Rainha da Bateria, who will be trying the Taylor distance for the first time.

“The mile and a quarter should be fine for her,” said Brown, who also will be represented by Guapaza in the E.P. Taylor.

Guapaza, who began her career in Chile, notched her first North American graded stakes score in Saratoga’s Grade 3 Waya after earlier being competitive in Grade 2 company.

In her latest Guapaza was a tiring sixth, beaten 5.5 lengths by fellow Taylor contestant Suffused in Saratoga’s Glens Falls, whom she had defeated by a head in the Waya.

“Her last race was disappointing,” said Brown. “She’d been in excellent form up to that point, but she’d been running a lot. “We’ve freshened her since; she’s had some good works.”

Javier Castellano, who has ridden Guapaza in her last three outings, retains the mount.

Trainer Bill Mott also has two for the Taylor in Suffused and Tuttipaesi.

Suffused, a homebred Juddmonte Farm 4-year-old, began her career in England and the Grade 3, 1 3/8 mile Glens Falls was her first stakes win.

“She’s improved as the year has gone on,” said Mott. “It really seems like she’s developed a better turn of foot. She’s running good races.”

Joel Rosario, winner of the 2013 E.P. Taylor with Tannery, will ride Suffused for the first time.

Tuttipaesti, racing for Valor Ladies LLC, captured Santa Anita’s Grade 2 Santa Anita and was a good fourth in Arlington’s Grade 1, 1 ¼ mile Beverly D. two starts back.

“No excuse,” said Mott. “She had a good run. It was a pretty tough race; I guess this race is pretty tough, too.”

Tuttipaesi returned four weeks later to finish third in the 1 1/16 mile Lady Baltimore, beaten 1 ¾ lengths under returning regular rider Chris de Carlo.

Al’s Gal, based in Kentucky with trainer Mike Maker, has been in career form lately for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

Claimed for $35,000 in February of 2015, the 5-year-old Al’s Gal has evolved into a solid turf stakes performer and  closed strongly to finish second, beaten just a half-length, in the Beverly D at Arlington Park.

“She got back a bit further than we would have liked but she made a nice run and just came up a couple jumps short,” said Maker . “She’s doing great. “

Al’s Gal returned a month after the Beverly D to win the 1 5/16 mile Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon under the returning Florent Geroux, who is 2-for-2 aboard the mare.

Strut the Course, beaten two lengths as the fourth-place finisher in last year’s Taylor, was making her first start in 11 weeks when looking to defend her title here in the Canadian. Bred in Ontario by her owner, John Unger, Strut the Course had finished second in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly, a 1 1/8 mile turf race which she also won last year, prior to her absence.

Rafael Hernandez has a return engagement aboard Strut the Course.

Uchenna, owned by Gary Barber and conditioned by Mark Casse, made her first start on the Tapeta surface here last month and was a punctual choice in the 1 1/16 mile Belle Mahone, an overnight stakes for fillies and mares. The Irish-bred 4-year-old won the Grade 3, 1 1/16 mile Ontario Matron here on Polytrack last year and finished third in tahis summer’s Grade 3 Matchmaker over a yielding 1 1/8 miles of turf at Monmouth Park.

Patrick Husbands returns aboard Uchenna.

MANDATORY JACKPOT HI-5 PAYOUT ON INTERNATIONAL CARD

Sunday’s bumper 11-race card includes a variety of wagering options for horseplayers including a $50,000 Guaranteed Pick 5 (Races 2-6); $150,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 (Races 4-7); $150,000 Guaranteed Pick 5 (Race 7-11); and a $250,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 (Races 8-11).

The eleventh, and final, race on Sunday’s Pattison Canadian International card will offer a mandatory payout on the Thoroughbred JackPot Hi-5 which currently boasts a carryover of $464,321.44.  The JackPot Hi-5 pool is suspended until Sunday and will not be available to play on the Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15 cards of racing, allowing customers to prepare for the mandatory payout prize.

The JackPot Hi-5, which has not been won since August 6th, has become a popular part of the WEG wagering profile.  The wager, which offers a 20-cent minimum and a takeout of 15%, debuted in 2013.

For fans and horseplayers wanting further information on WEG’s Jackpot Hi-5, including details, strategy and carryover info visit www.WoodbineEntertainment.com/JackpotHi5.

The 79th edition of the Pattison Canadian International will be held on Sunday, October 16, 2016 and will be broadcast live on TSN1 from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. ET.

Woodbine