Sunday at Woodbine ( Canada) : GRADE 1 EPT TAYLOR STAKES & GRADE 1 CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL

Taken from http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/canadianinternational/RaceTrackNewsPage.aspx?NewsId=6576157b-c4ef-4fc3-b6a1-760e1ed1d579


TORONTO, October 15…A highly-competitive renewal of Sunday’s $1 million Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International at Woodbine has attracted 11 hopefuls, headed by Second Step, the morning line choice at 3-1.

In addition to the turf mile and one-half Pattison, one of Canada’s richest thoroughbred races (the other $1 million races are the Queen’s Plate and Ricoh 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 78th edition of the International will go postward at 5:40 pm ET.   TSN5 will provide special live coverage across Canada from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm ET.  This marks the 13th year that Pattison, Canada's largest outdoor advertising company, has sponsored Woodbine’s turf classic, which rewards the winner with $600,000.   All horses carry 126 pounds, except the mare Habibi, at 123 and three-year-old Danish Dynaformer, with 119.

Masai Ujiri, President and General Manager of the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors, was the guest drawmaster when the post-position draw took place Thursday at Woodbine.

Merry Fox Stud’s homebred Second Step (PP4, 3-1), trained by Luca Cumani, won the mile and one-half Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin August 9 at Hoppegarten.   The four-year-old Irish-bred gelded son of 2003 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Dalakhani sports a career record of five wins in nine starts.

“He ran very well.  Initially we thought he wasn’t going anywhere.  He was just plodding along and then all of a sudden (jockey) Jamie (Spencer) picked him up and he came on absolutely flying,” said Emthe Kuhle-Hansen, Travelling Head Lass for Cumani, about his Group 1 win.

Cumani won the 1988 renewal of the International with Infamy, one of six fillies to win the turf classic.  He also conditioned two E.P. Taylor winners – Sudden Love in 1988 and Zomaradah in 1998.   Andrea Atzeni, who has been aboard Second Step for three of his victories, will ride.   Since 1958, when the International became a turf race, Irish-breds have won 13 times, including a trio of victories by Joshua Tree, the last in 2013.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute and jockey Ryan Moore will team up again, this time with lightly-raced Cannock Chase (PP2, 7-2) a four-year-old Kentucky-bred Group 3-winning son of Lemon Drop Kid.    Last year, they won the Pattison with favoured Hillstar.   Stoute also took the 1996 International with champion Singspiel, along with two second-place finishes (Shardari in 1986, Ask in 2007) and one third (Daliapour, 2000) while Moore scored aboard Joshua Tree in 2013.

Cannock Chase, a winner in three of only eight starts, comes into the Pattison off an effortless triumph in the Sakhee Godolphin Stakes at Newmarket on September 25 at the same mile and one-half distance as the Grade 1 Pattison.

“He had a good run in his first three (career) races,” said Stoute.  “Then he had some niggles in his feet, nothing serious, so we had to put him away (in June of 2014).  He won well the other day.   Obviously we dropped him in class, it was a listed race.  I’m happy with his condition and he just proved that he got a mile and a half.  He’s in with a shot.”

Cannock Chase is one of two hopefuls owned by Rabbah Bloodstock.  The other is veteran campaigner Sheikhzayedroad (PP3, 6-1), a six-year-old gelded son of Dubawi, who ventured to Woodbine last year and promptly won the Grade 1 Northern Dancer.

The British-bred is trained by David Simcock, who enjoyed a memorable three-race stint at Woodbine last year, not only winning the Northern Dancer, but also the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile with Trade Storm and the Grade 2 Nearctic with Caspar Netscher.    Sheikhzayedroad, who is winless in eight starts since his Woodbine victory, will be ridden as usual by Martin Lane.

“We’ve had this race in mind for about three months,” said Simcock.   “He’s had a long season but he’s a fresh horse now.  His (racing) lines may not be as good as last year but his fourth at Royal Ascot (the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes on June 20) was very good.   He ran poor at Newmarket for no apparent reason then we tried him at two miles (at Goodwood).   This should be much more up his street.   He’s in excellent order.  We’re confident he’ll run very well.”


Sheikhzayedroad is back in Canada...where he is undefeated!

There are four Canadian-breds in the Pattison – Up With the Birds, Kaigun, Interpol and Danish Dynaformer, each trying to become the sixth different Canadian-bred to win the race, the last being Thornfield in 1999.   The others were Chief Bearhart (1997), Sky Classic (1991), He’s a Smoothie (1967) and George Royal twice (1965 and 1966).

JMJ Racing Stables’ Interpol (PP9, 8-1), a four-year-old son of English Channel, enters off two consecutive upset stakes wins – as a 21-1 shot in the Sky Classic, August 16 and as a 10-1 outsider in the Northern Dancer on September 13.    Aboard for both wins was Emma-Jayne Wilson, who retains the mount on Sunday for Hall of Fame trainer Sid Attard.

Sam-Son Farm’s homebred Up With the Birds (PP5, 10-1), the field’s leading money winner with over $1.5 million, is now trained by Graham Motion, of Better Talk Now, Animal Kingdom and Main Sequence fame.  Canada’s 2013 Horse of the Year returns to Woodbine for the first time since winning the Nijinsky Stakes in July of 2014, seeking a third International win for Sam-Son, following Sky Classic (1991) and Chief Bearhart (1997).

The five-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic is winless in four outings in 2015 south of the border, but finished a very respectable fourth to The Pizza Man and Big Blue Kitten in the Arlington Million in August.    Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who leads all riders with career purse earnings of over $335 million, will climb aboard Up With the Birds, who is unbeaten in two turf outings at Woodbine, for the first time.

The Mark Casse-trained Kaigun (PP10, 12-1), to be ridden by Patrick Husbands, enters off a close fourth-place finish, two lengths behind Mondialiste in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile on September 13.   The five-year-old gelded son of Northern Afleet has earned over $1.1 million for owners Quintessential Racing Florida, Horse’n Around Racing Stable and Gary Barber.   Husbands just missed winning the race in 2000 aboard Williams News, finishing a nose behind Mutafaweq.  Last year, Kaigun contested several Grade 1 route races, finishing a close fifth to Main Sequence in the United Nations at Monmouth and second to Real Solution in the Manhattan at Belmont.

Roger Attfield, a member of both the Canadian and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame, will send out Charles Fipke’s homebred Danish Dynaformer (PP6, 10-1), who was second to Shaman Ghost in the Queen’s Plate, won the Breeders’ Stakes in August, but then was a disappointing sixth to Interpol last out.  Eurico Rosa da Silva, who rode Danish Dynaformer in his career debut last November, will be aboard the only three-year-old in the race.  Thirteen three-year-olds have won the International since 1958, the latest being Joshua Tree in 2010, while Attfield has three times finished second in the International, the latest with Spice Route in 2008.

Trainer Bill Mott, who won the 1995 International with Lassigny, sends out French-bred Triple Threat (PP7, 10-1), to be ridden by Joel Rosario, who has been second in this race the last two years – with Hyper in 2013 and Big Blue Kitten in 2014.

Owned and bred by Team Valor International and Gary Barber, the five-year-old son of Monsun will be making just his fourth North American start, after campaigning for three seasons in France for trainer Andre Fabre.  Triple Threat debuted in June off a nine-month layoff and sparkled when winning the Monmouth Handicap on firm ground.   He was subsequently 11th in the Arlington Million, then third to Interpol in the Northern Dancer, both contested on yielding turf.

New Zealand-bred Habibi (PP11, 10-1), owned by Augustin Stable and trained by Mark Frostad, finished a close second, a half-length behind Interpol in the Northern Dancer after winning the Flaming Page Stakes on August 15, both contested at one and one-half miles.    The six-year-old daughter of Ekraar will try to become the seventh filly/mare to win since 1958 and the first since longshot Sarah Lynx in 2011.   Robby Albarado rides.   Frostad trained 1997 International winner Chief Bearhart.


Habibi, a New Zealand-bred, races for local trainer Mark Frostad...

Stepaside Farms’ Power Ped (PP1, 20-1), a five-year-old gelded son of Group 1 winner Powerscourt, is a four-time winner in 23 starts and enters off a second place finish to Da Big Hoss in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup on September 14.   Trained by Neil Drysdale, who conditioned Marsh Side, the 29-1 winner of the 2008 International, Power Ped will have Florent Geroux up.

Copper Water Thoroughbred’s Reporting Star (PP8, 20-1), trained by Pat Parente and ridden by Luis Contreras, comes in off a fifth-place finish to Mondialiste in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile last month.  The five-year-old Florida-bred son of Circular Quay won the seven furlong Play the King in August and last year finished sixth to Hillstar in the International on the heels of a close third place result to Sheikhzayedroad in the Northern Dancer.

The E.P. Taylor Stakes will go postward as the 8th race at 4:57 pm (ET) and has drawn a field of 12, headed by British-bred three-year-old Group 2 winner Curvy (3-1), a disappointing fifth to Stephanie’s Kitten in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Park in her North America debut on October 3.   The second choice is Sovereign Award winner Strut the Course, a John Unger five-year-old homebred who won the Grade 2 Canadian for trainer Barb Minshall on September 13.

Since 1958, U.S.-breds have captured 27 editions of the International, followed by Irish-breds (13) and British-breds (seven). The stakes record for the mile and one-half over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course is 2:25 3/5 seconds, set by Juddmonte Farms' Raintrap in 1994. 

The largest winning margin still belongs to the incomparable Secretariat, when 'Big Red' coasted home by six and one-half lengths in his farewell appearance in 1973.  He is also the shortest-priced winner in history, paying $2.40.  Favourites have won the International 22 of 57 times (38.6%) since 1958, the latest being Hillstar, at 6-5 in 2014.


$1-million Pattison Canadian International-  One mile and one half miles

BUTTON DOWN (GB) / TBA / Josie Carroll / Greenwood Lodge Farm Inc.  16/1

CANNOCK CHASE / Ryan Moore / Sir Michael Stoute / Rabbah Bloodstock  2/1

DANISH DYNAFORMER / Eurico Rosa da Silva / Roger Attfield / Charles Fipke  20/1

HABIBI (NZ) / Robby Albarado / Mark Frostad / Augustin Stable 16/1

INTERPOL / Emma-Jayne Wilson / Sid Attard / JMJ Racing Stables LLC  10/1

KAIGUN / P. Husbands / M. Casse / Quintessential Racing, Horse n' Around & G. Barber 16/1

POWER PED / Florent Geroux / Neil Drysdale / Stepaside Farms Inc. 20/1

REPORTING STAR / Luis Contreras / P. Parente / Copper Water Thoroughbred Company 25/1

SECOND STEP (IRE) / Andrea Atzeni / Luca Cumani / Merry Fox Stud Limited  3/1

SHEIKHZAYEDROAD (GB) / Martin Lane / David Simcock / Rabbah Bloodstock  7/1

TRIPLE THREAT (FR) / Joel Rosario / Bill Mott / Team Valor International & G. Barber  14/1

UP WITH THE BIRDS / John Velazquez / Graham Motion / Sam-Son Farm  16/1


GRADE  1, $500,000 EP TAYLOR STAKES - One mile and One-quarter for fillies and mares

FIELD FOR THE E.P. TAYLOR STAKES (13)
HORSE / TRAINER / OWNER

BUTTON DOWN (GB) / Josie Carroll / Greenwood Lodge Farm  10/1

CURVY (GB) / David Wachman / Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith  10/3

DEVONSHIRE (IRE) / W. McCreery / Godolphin  13/2

EASTERN BELLE (GB) / Graham Motion / Oppenheimer Antoinette   10/1

LACY (GER) / Hickst Waldemar / Gestuet Fahrhof  25/1

LLANARMON / Roger Attfield / Triton Stable and Robert N. Clay  40/1

NAKUTI (IRE) / Sylvester Kirk / Nelius Hayes  9/1

ROASLIND / Chad Brown / Bethlehem Stables LLC, Michael Dubb  10/1

STRUT THE COURSE / Barb Minshall / John Unger  13/2

TALMADA / Roger Varian / Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum  6/1

UCHENNA (IRE) / Roger Attfield / Triton Stable  25/1

WHITE ROSE / Bill Mott / Jake Ballis and Rashard Lewis  12/1

YAAZY (IRE) / J. Hammond / H Al Maktoum  9/2


PAST WINNERS

Canadian International

Winners of the Canadian International Stakes[edit]
Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2014    Hillstar             4    Ryan Moore    Michael Stoute    Evelyn de Rothschild    2:29.00
2013    Joshua Tree    6    Ryan Moore    Ed Dunlop    Nabooda/Albahou    2:35.45
2012    Joshua Tree    5    Frankie Dettori    Marco Botti    Nabooda/Albahou    2:30.89
2011    Sarah Lynx    4    Christophe Soumillon    John Hammond    Mrs. Robert G. Ehrnooth    2:34.90
2010    Joshua Tree    3    Colm O'Donoghue    Aidan O'Brien    Smith, Magnier and Tabor    2:32.72
2009    Champs Elysees    6    Garrett Gomez    Robert J. Frankel    Juddmonte Farms    2:28.36
2008    Marsh Side    5    Javier Castellano    Neil D. Drysdale    Robert S. Evans    2:28.73
2007    Cloudy's Knight    7    Ramsey Zimmerman    Frank J. Kirby    S J Stables LLC    2:27.71
2006    Collier Hill    8    Dean McKeown    Alan Swinbank    R. Hall, D. Abell, R. Crowe    2:37.34
2005    Relaxed Gesture    4    Corey Nakatani    Christophe Clement    Moyglare Stud    2:32.64
2004    Sulamani    5    Frankie Dettori    Saeed bin Suroor    Godolphin    2:28.64
2003    Phoenix Reach    3    Martin Dwyer    Andrew Balding    Winterbeck Manor Stud    2:33.62
2002    Ballingarry    3    Michael Kinane    T. J. Comerford    Coolmore Stud    2:31.68
2001    Mutamam    6    Richard Hills    Alec Stewart    Shadwell Racing    2:28.46
2000    Mutafaweq    4    Frankie Dettori    Saeed bin Suroor    Godolphin    2:27.62
1999    Thornfield    5    Richard Dos Ramos    Phil England    Knob Hill Stable    2:32.39
1998    Royal Anthem    3    Gary Stevens    Henry Cecil    The Thoroughbred Corp.    2:29.60
1997    Chief Bearhart    4    Jose Santos    Mark Frostad    Sam-Son Farm    2:29.00
1996    Singspiel    4    Gary Stevens    Michael Stoute    Sheikh Mohammed    2:33.20
1995    Lassigny    4    Pat Day    William I. Mott    Prince Sultan al Kabeer    2:29.80
1994    Raintrap    4    Robbie Davis    André Fabre    Juddmonte Farms    2:25.60
1993    Husband    3    Cash Asmussen    John Fellows    Keswick Stables    2:36.40
1992    Snurge *    5    Richard Quinn    Paul Cole    Martyn Arbib    2:39.00
1991    Sky Classic    4    Pat Day    Jim Day    Sam-Son Farm    2:27.80
1990    French Glory    4    Pat Eddery    André Fabre    Juddmonte Farms    2:34.80



EP TAYLOR STAKES



Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2014    Just The Judge (IRE)    4    Jamie Spencer    Charles Hills    Qatar Racing / Sangster family    2:03.47
2013    Tannery (IRE)    4    Joel Rosario    Alan E. Goldberg    Richard Santulli    2:07.13
2012    Siyouma    4    Gérald Mossé    François Doumen    Robert Jeffcock    2:03.04
2011    Miss Keller    5    John Velazquez    Roger Attfield    Three Chimneys/Lordship Stud/McStay    2:06.98
2010    Reggane    4    Christophe Soumillon    Alain de Royer-Dupre    Haras De La Perelle    2:03.88
2009    Lahaleeb    3    William Buick    Mick Channon    M. Al-Qatami / K. Al-Mudhaf    2:02.89
2008    Folk Opera    4    Frankie Dettori    Saeed bin Suroor    Godolphin Racing    2:03.70
2007    Mrs. Lindsay    3    Johnny Murtagh    Francois Rohaut    Bettina Jenney    2:00.68
2006    Arravale    3    Jose Valdivia, Jr.    Macdonald Benson    Robert J. Costigan    2:10.34
2005    Honey Rider    4    John Velazquez    Todd Pletcher    Glencrest Farm LLC    2:06.70
2004    Commercante    4    John Velazquez    Robert J. Frankel    A. Falourd/H. Guy/R. Trussell    2:04.02
2003    Volga    5    Richard Migliore    Kiaran McLaughlin    H. Joseph Allen    2:05.68
2002    Fraulein    3    Kevin Darley    Ed Dunlop    Philip Freedman    2:10.03
2001    Choc Ice    3    Johnny Murtagh    Robert Collet    Micheline Vidal    2:03.01
2000    Fly For Avie    5    Todd Kabel    David R. Bell    Ivan Dalos    2:03.78
1999    Insight    4    Mike E. Smith    John Hammond    Flaxman Holdings    2:05.34
1998    Zomaradah    3    Gary Stevens    Luca Cumani    Darley Racing    2:02.40
1997    Kool Kat Katie    3    Olivier Peslier    David R. Loder    Augustin Stable    2:02.00
1996    Wandering Star    3    Herb McCauley    James Fanshawe    H. Joseph Allen    2:04.60
1995    Timarida    3    Frankie Dettori    John Oxx    H H Aga Khan IV    2:03.60
1994    Truly A Dream    3    Chris McCarron    Robert Collet    Richard C. Strauss    2:01.60
1993    Hero's Love    5    Earlie Fires    Daniel J. Vella    Frank Stronach    2:14.40
1992    Hatoof    3    Walter Swinburn    Criquette Head    Sheikh Maktoum    2:07.80
1991    Lady Shirl    4    Garrett Gomez    Noel P. Hickey    Irish Acres Farm    2:02.40
1990    Ruby Tiger    3    Richard Quinn    Paul F. I. Cole    Susan Blacker    2:09.60