Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ehrnrooth’s Sarah Lynx, the sole filly in the field of 16, swept to the front along the rail in mid-stretch, then pulled away to an emphatic four length score in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Pattison Canadian International, Sunday at Woodbine.
Ridden by Christophe Soumillon and trained by John Hammond, the Irish-bred four-year-old daughter of Montjeu, who went postward a 22-1 outsider, became just the sixth filly or mare, and first since Infamy in 1988, to win the mile and one-half turf classic, Canada’s richest horse race.
Behind her in second was the defending champion Joshua Tree, who was dismissed at 11-1, while lukewarm favourite Treasure Beach, at 7-2, was two lengths further back in third, but three-quarters of a length in front of fourth-place finisher Arctic Cosmos.
Placed in eighth for much of the contest, Sarah Lynx came through on the inside as the field straightened away for a cavalry-like charge down the lane. Then, with an explosive turn of foot, she drew off effortlessly over the yielding turf, hitting the wire in 2:34.90.
Hammond, who also trained her sire, champion Montjeu, throughout his career, highlighted by a victory in the 1999 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, celebrated his first win in the Pattison, after finishing seventh twice, with Gruntled in 2003 and Dear Doctor in 1993. Montjeu
also sired last year’s winner, Joshua Tree.
For Soumillon, Sarah Lynx was his first mount in the International. Last year, he won the E.P. Taylor Stakes aboard another longshot,
Reggane. The victory capped a memorable weekend for the top French rider, who won yesterday’s Champion Stakes at Ascot aboard Cirrus Des Aigles.
“She likes to be inside of horses,” said Soumillon. “The great thing is that she has a good turn of foot. This is the third time she’s had blinkers on because before she was a bit lazy. So with those on, I saw she was not pulling at all in the race. She was really relaxed. I was quite confident.”
The Pattison was also a ‘Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In’ race, so Sarah Lynx earned an all-expenses paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf, November 5 at Churchill Downs, should her connections decide to run her.
“We’ve had a fantastic time since we’ve been here,” added Kate Bradley, assistant trainer to John Hammond. “We’ve been looked
after exceptionally well. For a filly to win like that here, you know, it is phenomenal really. Credit goes to Christophe (Soumillon) because he knows the filly very, very well. He’s got great partnership with her and my boss also, John. We are just over the moon. He’s
(Soumillon) the best. He’s the king.”
Kara’s Orientation, one of six local representatives, went immediately to the front, while being stalked by Bronze Cannon and Miami Deco, taking the field through fractions of 25.41, 52.06, 1.17.73 and 1:42.96 (for a mile).
But the field began to close in around the far turn, and after the mile and one-quarter was reached in 2:09.48, the leaders were inhaled in early stretch. Treasure Beach moved to challenge, as did Joshua Tree, while Arctic Cosmos began to close ground on the outside.
But suddenly, the filly burst clear on the inside, leaving no doubt as to her superiority. Her winning margin was the largest since Relaxed Gesture’s four and one-half length tally in 2005, while the incomparable Secretariat holds the race record, six and one-half lengths, in 1973.
In addition to Sarah Lynx and Infamy, the other fillies or mares to win the International are River Memories (1987), All Along (1983), Dahlia (1974) and Drumtop (1970).
It’s been quite a year for the ‘fairer sex’ on the racetrack, both at Woodbine and abroad. Inglorious won both the Woodbine Oaks and the famed Queen’s Plate here in June, while German-bred three-year-old filly Danedream trounced an illustrious group in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe earlier this month at Longchamp, in Paris, France. In the United States, four-year-old filly Havre de Grace is one of the favourites for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Sarah Lynx earned $900,000 for the win and also lit up the tote board, paying $46.90, $21.40 and $13.80. Her win price was the third highest since 1958, behind Marsh Side ($61.20) in 2008 and Nassipour ($57.20) in 1985.
She combined with Joshua Tree ($12.30, $8.40) for a $659.50 (1-7) exactor. A 1-7-13 (Treasure Beach, $4.10 to show) triactor came back
$3,699 while a $1 Superfecta [1-7-13-2 (Arctic Cosmos)] returned $16,309.95.
The Pattison Canadian International card produced a record handle for the day of $6,400,112.
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