DESERT ENCOUNTER (Ire) , the popular nine-year-old who is unbeaten in two trips across the ocean to Woodbine, will seek a record-equalling third PATTISON CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL (G1) on Sept. 18 at Woodbine.
The bay gelding, who won the 2018 and 2019 edition of the International, is set to arrive at Woodbine on Saturday for trainer David Simcock. His last win was the 2019 International but he has placed six times in his 15 races since then. Only JOSHUA TREE has won the International three times.
The International, first run in 1938 and made famous by so many great winners including SECRETARIAT in 1973, was not run in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year the race has been moved earlier on the calendar, sharing the stage with the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.
Thirteen horses were nominated for the $600,000 marathon at 1 1/2 miles on turf, but some of those are entered in races in the next few days. The Grade 2 Calumet Turf Cup on Sept. 11 at Kentucky Downs has lured some of the International nominees: ARKLOW, DYNADRIVE (on the also eligible list), FANTASIOSO, and GLYNN COUNTY. At Woodbine, PRIMO TOUCH and RIPTIDE ROCK are entered in races this weekend.
Should the International lose all or some of those horses there should still be a field of seven or eight including Singspiel Stakes (G3) winner CORELLI (Point of Entry) and Godolphin Management’s WALTON STREET (GB) who is expected to arrive from England with 2-year-olds WILD BEAUTY and ALBAHR for the Grade 1 Natalma and Summer Stakes respectively.
WALTON STREET would likely be heavily favoured as a Group 2 winner and recently Group 1 placed.
Trainer Charlie Appleby, who has sent some nice ones to the International but has yet to win it, said of WALTON STREET, a son of Cape Cross, to Racenews:
“He ticks a lot of boxes. He races in a nice rhythm and is an ideal staying horse to ride. You can put him anywhere and, instead of a turn of foot, he gradually goes through the gears. You have to give him a bit of time to build into it but, once he changes his leads and gets on his off-fore, he goes.”
WALTON STREET won the March 6 Dubai City of Gold Stakes (G2) at Meydan by 3 1/2 lengths with a hefty 122 Timeform Rating. He was then fourth in the Grade 1 Sheema Classic in Dubai to the star horse MISHRIFF.
On Aug. 8 he was third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Berlin in Germany (watch here) after setting the pace in that first race off the layoff. Walton Street has won six of 18 races.
ENGLISH CONQUEROR and BELICHICK, second and third to Corelli in the Singspiel are also nominated.
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