Juddmonte Farms’ PURVIEW, Godolphin’s ARABIAN CROWN and Amo Racing’s ANCIENT EGYPT are settled into Woodbine racetrack to prepare for Saturday’s Grade 1 Canadian International, the 86th edition of the 1 1/2 mile turf race.
Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby have won two of the last three Internationals – 2023 with Nations Pride and 2021 with Walton Street – and the team recently won yet another Woodbine Mile (G1) this year with Notable Speech, who was repeating from a year ago.
In fact, Godolphin has four International wins, tied among owners with E.P. Taylor’s Windfields Farm. Juddmonte, of the late Aga Khan, has three previous International wins and could gain a spot tied for the most wins if Purview is successful.
The latest news, that of Bowling Green Stakes winner TAWNY PORT working on Friday at Saratoga, suggests the long-winded fellow is headed back to Toronto this year. He was second in the International last season to front-runner Silawi when it was run on the inner turf course. Tawny Port, trained by Miguel Clement, was on the list of possible Melbourne Cup (G1) starters in November, a race Clement favoured.
Tawny Port has won two races this year at 2 miles and 2 1/16 miles.
Of the Euros, Ancient Egypt (Ire), by Frankel (GB), looks strong for trainer Charlie Johnston and Amo Racing USA LLC. A three-time listed winner, he was second by a head to the top three-year-old Maltese Cross in the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) (French Derby). Maltese Cross is entered in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe this weekend.
Ancient Egypt was sent to Saratoga for the Grade 1 Christophe Clement Turf but caught a soggy course and wound up fourth. The colt should get a very firm turf at Woodbine on Saturday.
ARABIAN CROWN defeated PURVIEW in the Kilternan Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown in his latest outing. In his previous race in July, he was second by half a length to the great Rebel’s Romance in the Princess of Wales.
Purview, trained by Dermot Weld, defeated eventual Irish Champion Stakes (G1) winner Hotazhell in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free at the Curragh this summer.
There could be another five entrants including the lone locally-raced horse, Dancin in Da’Nile, trained by Gail Cox.
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