Shahroze, invading from Maryland and making his stakes debut for trainer Graham Motion, rallied from last place in the field of eight for a powerful two-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 $125,000 Singspiel Stakes, at Woodbine.
Locally-based Alan Garcia rode Shahroze for the first time in the Singspiel, a 1 ½ mile race for 3-year-olds and upward.
“Today he was very impressive,” said Garcia. “He broke well and then was squished out of there and then was last and saved all the ground. When we came turning for home, I said, ‘Let me go wide’ because I have plenty of horse and then he did his job.
“I wanted to be a little closer to the pace today, but he got that problem in the break,” continued Garcia. “After that, turning for home I let him run and he kicked away from everybody.”
Pumpkin Rumble, next-to-last through the early going, also finished strongly to take down second money.
Final Copy, who led through the first mile in 1:38.03 with fractions of :25.33, :50.33 and 1:14.07, opened up turning for home but was soon confronted by Camelot Kitten. A Chiefswood Stable homebred, one of two Roger Attfield trained-runners in the field, Final Copy gave way in the final furlong and finished third, one length behind the runner-up.
Camelot Kitten had a ground-saving trip and stayed on for fourth money, a neck behind Final Copy. Johnny Bear, last year’s Sovereign Award-winning older male turf horse, also raced into contention but could not mount a sufficient rally and ended fifth, another three-quarters of a length back.
Danish Dynaformer, who won the 2016 edition and was looking to give trainer Attfield a record eighth win in just the 14th running of the race, was within striking distance around the far turn but failed to fire while finishing sixth.
English Illusion and Seeking Albert contentious for the first mile, faltered to end seventh and eighth, respectively.
The final time on a firm turf course was 2:25.65, just .35 seconds off the course record established by Raintrap in the 1994 running of the Canadian International.
Shahroze, an Irish-bred 4-year-old gelding, began his career in his homeland and now has won three of five starts since coming to North America and Motion last year.
Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Head of Plains Partners LLC, Shahroze was stretching out off a a1 ¼ mile first-level allowance win at Belmont Park.
Woodbine jockeys donned black bands for the Singspiel to honour the memory of the late Shantel Lanerie, wife of jockey Corey Lanerie, who passed away on Friday from cancer at the age of 42.
“I want to say to the family of Corey Lanerie, who’s wife passed away yesterday, I want to wish peace to him and all the family. I’m very sad to hear his wife passed away,” said Garcia.
Sent postward at odds of 5-1, Shahroze returned $13.20, $5.40 and $4.20. He combined with Pumpkin Rumble ($5, $3.70) for a 2-8 exacta worth $74.20. A $1 trifecta of 2-8-5 (Final Copy, $4.80) paid $194.45 and a $1 superfecta of 2-8-5-1 (Camelot Kitten) returned $721.15.
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