Gail Cox trainees All Canadian, an Alberta-bred son of Reload, and Ready to Repeat, a Kentucky-bred son of More Than Ready, face four fellow two-year-olds in Sunday’s $100,000 Victoria Stakes, at Woodbine.
All Canadian, who Cox co-owns with John Menary, seeks his second win in as many starts when he goes postward in the 5 ½-furlong Victoria, to be contested on the Woodbine Tapeta.
Bred by Highfield Investment Group Inc. and Curtis Landry, the chestnut colt impressed in his career bow on July 5 at the Toronto oval.
Sent on his way at 3-1, All Canadian, under Emma-Jayne Wilson, assumed command early in the 4 ½-furlong main track maiden optional claiming race, was 1 ½-lengths in front at the stretch call, and two lengths the best at the wire.
Cox was anticipating a strong showing.
“I’ve always quite liked him,” said the conditioner, who is one win shy of 120 for her career. “I was actually surprised he won so easily. When it comes to maidens you don’t know a whole lot about them, but my horse was in Florida training there. So, that was probably a bit of an advantage. He’s been nice and he’s always showed speed. I quite liked him going into the race.”
Wilson, who won the 2007 Victoria with Kodiak Kowboy, was equally pleased with the effort that began from the inside post.
“She really liked him,” said Cox. “She said he lost his focus for a little bit around the turn, but when he heard a horse come up behind him, he sort of refocused. He broke well, and he has generally been a good gate horse. I was thrilled with that.”
Ready to Repeat could live up to his name once again.
Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, the gelding finished second in his debut, a 4 ½-furlong race on the Woodbine main track on June 24, before a head-turning triumph over five furlongs on the Woodbine Inner Turf on July 12.
“He’s really nice,” said Cox, who co-owns the bay with John Menary, Michael Ambler, and Windways Farm. “I think he’s very talented. He came out of his race very well. He’s a good-feeling horse that doesn’t miss a beat most of the time. He eats really well, and feels good. He’s pretty easy to deal with in that way.
“I was actually surprised at the amount of speed he showed there [the July 12 win]. He really blasted out of there and ran fast, and it didn’t seem like anyone was getting to him at the end. He carried on. I think he’s a really, really nice horse.”
Cox and Menary co-owned multiple graded stakes winner Something Extra, a Kentucky-bred son of Indian Charlie whose victories include the Connaught Cup (G2), Highlander (G2) and Shakertown (G3).
The Victoria is slated as Race 8 on Sunday’s 11-race card. First post time is 1 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.
FIELD FOR THE $100,000 VICTORIA STAKES
POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER
1 – All Canadian – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Gail Cox
2 – Ready to Repeat – Luis Contreras – Gail Cox
3 – Working the Table – Kirk Johnson – Dale Desruisseaux
4 – Master Spy – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
5 – Download (S) – Justin Stein – Michael De Paulo
6 – Gospel Way – Emile Ramsammy – Nathan Squires
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