The Oct. 12 Pattison Canadian International (G1) is worth $800,000 and tops a day of turf racing that includes the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor and Grade 1 Nearctic Stakes. The last of Woodbine major stakes race days often lures some fascinating and top horses from overseas.
Already we know DESERT ENCOUNTER, last year’s International winner, is coming back now that he has found good form again.
An interesting one on the nomination list is KEW GARDENS, a son of Galileo trained by Aidan O’Brien. This 4-year-old won the St Leger and French Derby last year. He is top weighted for the Melbourne Cup but wil not go there according to the trainer.
All but a couple of nominees are European or American. TIZ A SLAM is the lone Canadian-bred nominated and he had a three race win streak ended in the Northern Dancer recently, a race in which Old Persian ran him down late.
ARKLOW is quite a good handicapper for trainer Brad Cox. He was 4th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year to Enable. He could come to Woodbine while the horse that beat him in the Kentucky Cup Turf recently, Zulu Alpha, would be a nice one to get here but is likely headed to the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Top 10 Canadian International Contenders
(based on nomination list, not all confirmed to be coming)
1. Desert Encoounter
2. Kew Gardens
3. Mount Everest
4. Pivoine
5. Ziyad
6. Tiz a Slam
7. Zulu Alpha
8. Arklow
9. Elarqam
10. Alounak
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