Just who the heck is ZIYAD? And this German filly in the E.P. Taylor Stakes, DURANCE, how does she match up with Holy Helena and Starship Jubilee?
The final Grade 1 racing day of the 2019 Woodbine season is today with races 7, 8, and 9 being the Grade 2 Nearctic, Grade 1 E P Taylor and culminating with the Pattison Canadian International.
For bettors, the International kicks off the late pick 4, the Nearctic ends the first Pick 4 and the Taylor strats a Pick 5. There is also a mandatory payout on the High 5 wager on the last race – the carryover is in the $97,000 range.
Here are the entries for the 2019 Pattison Canadian International (G1). All horses will carry 126 pounds. The International goes off at 5:40pm ET as the 9th race on Sunday, and will be shown live on TSN4 in Canada from 5:00-6:00pm.
Post Horse Trainer Jockey Odds
1 Ziyad (GB) Carlos Laffon-Parias Maxime Guyon 1-1
2 Pivoine (IRE) Andrew Balding Robert Hornby 10-1
3 Nessy Ian Wilkes Chris Landeros 8-1
4 Desert Encounter (IRE) David Simcock Andrea Atzeni 2-1
5 Alounak (FR) Waldemar Hickst Clement Lecoeuvre 6-1
6 Pumpkin Rumble Kevin Attard Eurico Rosa Da Silva 15-1
The International, with just six horses, is going to play into the hands of the four Euro’s as the pace will be slow and that is how the overseas horses are accustomed to running. No offense to Nessy and local Pumpkin Rumble, but a win by either of them would be a shock.
DESERT ENCOUNTER won this race last year with a 103 Beyer Speed Figure but the 7-year-old gelding by Halling is not the favourite despite coming in with three straight Group 3 wins in England.
It is ZIYAD, a gelded son of Rock of Gibralter owned and bred by Wertheimer et Frere who will open at even-money.
According to trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias, the gelding of this 4-year-old has led to improvement in his efforts which includes a neck-loss in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud two starts ago to the fancy grey mare Coronet. Coronet went from that win over Ziyad to win another Group 1, the Prix Jean Romanet. A solid frame of reference.
Ziyad then came back to win the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville on Aug. 25, tracking the lone front runner and quickening to a half length win. The second place finish Soft Light came back to be 6th to Waldgeist and Enable in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. More good references.
You can watch Ziyad’s latest race, his win in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville Aug. 25 here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oi5jyWPTdo
Getting a feel for a comparison of Ziyad and Desert Encounter from horseplayers overseas, most say Ziyad is the better of the two.
Then there is PIVOINE, a 5-year-old gelding by Redoute’s Choice, who came to North America in August and was fifth to the mighty Bricks and Mortar in the Arlington Million at 1 1/4 miles. He was off the slow pace that day and rallied wide to post a 93 Beyer Figure. Since then he was 9th in the September Stakes and then second to Desert Encounter on Sept. 21 in the Dubai Duty Free Cup.
The fourth European invader is ALOUNAK, a French bred colt by Camelot, who is going to be first-time with Lasix. This guy has been racing in Germany and two starts ago he was fifth beaten four lengths in the Group 1 Prix Von Berlin and his connections say they were not happy with his front running tactics that day. The third place finisher in that race, OLD PERSIAN, came to Woodbine and won the Northern Dancer Turf – Grade 1 – with ease.
In his last start, Alounak won the Group 3 Preis der Sparkassen Finanzgruppe at 10 furlongs, he is 0 for 3 at 12 furlongs.
Note that Ziyad, Nessy and Desert Encounter are the only winners at 12 furlongs on turf.
There is some rain falling this morning but it is expected to clear up later and the turf should be at least ‘good’.
The E.P. TAYLOR is a real jumble of Euros and North Americans. The 10 horse field is a much better event than the International which has not had a six horse field since Chief Bearhart won at odds on in the late 1990s.
RED TEA is the 3 to 1 morning line choice and she is first with with Lasix. The 6-year-old mare is a warrior with 8 wins in 35 starts. Two starts ago she won a Group 2 in Ireland at nine furlongs (the Taylor is 10 furlongs). She was then third behind the aforementioned Coronet in the 10 furlong Group 1 Jeam Romanet on soft grass on Aug. 18. Eurico da Silva gets the mount. A solid contender.
DURANCE, a German-bred 3-year-old, is first time Lasix and she won a Group 3 in July at 1 3/8 miles. She has been racing at longer distances and was 3rd in a Group 1 and 2nd in a Group 2. An improving filly.
IMPERIAL CHARM, another 3-year-old filly who is also first time with Lasix, is just a one-time winner but she has placed in a Group 1 at this distance. PLATANE, a stablemate of Ziyad, is a 2-time winner is seeking firm turf and a bit of luck.
The North Americans have a bit of a chance and those include GAINING, who was doing just that in the Ramsey Farm Stakes at Kentucky Downs last time after stumbling and jumping early in the race and going a zillion paths wide into the long stretch run. Secret Message won a stakes race at Woodbine this year and is one to consider, Holy Helena won the Dance Smartly in June at 10 furlongs but she doesn’t want too much rain while Starship Jubilee is a hometown heroine who will be tested again by the distance.
Long layoff starter Si Que Es Buena is a wildcard but good enough if tight and A A Azula’s Arch seeks her first win on the grass.
selections and analysis on these races and the Woodbine card can be found here by 9 a.m. Saturday morning – https://ontarioracing.com/Learn-To-Bet/Bettors-Corner
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