Grandeur, a multiple graded stakes winning world traveler, and Up With the Birds, Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year, head a list of 23 nominees for the 77th edition of the historic Grade 1, $1 million race.
The Pattison Canadian International, contested at 1 ½ miles over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, is slated for Sunday, October 19 at Woodbine as part of a lucrative card that includes the grassy $500,000 Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares and the $300,000 Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes, a six furlong turf sprint for three-year-olds and upwards.
Joshua Tree, celebrated hero of the 2010, 2012 and 2013 renewals of the International, was not among the nominees and has not raced since June 21 at Royal Ascot.
Grandeur, a five-year-old Irish-bred son of Verglas-Misskinta, has packed on considerable air miles over an impressive career that includes victories at Brighton, Goodwood, Newbury and Lingfield in the U.K. as well as scores in California at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park.
Trained by Jeremy Noseda for Yvonne Jacques, the talented grey’s biggest scores came in California with victories in the G2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita and the G2 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Grandeur has continued his traveling ways in 2014 opening his account at Lingfield on February 22 in a weight for age stakes, eventually shipping to Belmont Park in May to try a trio of turf tilts finishing third in the G1 Man o’ War, 4th in the G1 Manhattan Stakes and second in the G2 Bowling Green Handicap. Grandeur’s last start, on September 24 at Goodwood in the U.K., was a winning one.
Up With the Birds posted a record of 4-2-0 from six starts in 2013 including wins in the Black Gold Stakes at the Fair Grounds, and the Marine and Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine to go along with a tremendous Grade 1 victory in the Jamaica Handicap, at Belmont, to complete his champion sophomore season.
The Stormy Atlantic-Song of the Lark bay has continued to impress in 2014 notching a win in the G2 Nijinsky Stakes at Woodbine en route to a fourth-place effort in the G1 Arlington Million last time out.
Malcolm Pierce trains Up With the Birds for owner-breeder Sam-Son Farms who have captured the International on two occasions, first with Sky classic in 1991 and again in 1997 with Chief Bearhart.
The U.S. is well represented on the nominees list with Suntracer, a nose winner of the G3 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes at Kentucky Downs. Owned and trained by Chris Block, Suntracer will be piloted by Woodbine’s leading rider Luis Contreras.
War Dancer, trained by Ken McPeek for Diamond M Stable, is a multiple graded stakes winner with victories in the 2013 G2 Virigina Derby at Colonials Downs and, more recently, the G3 Louisille Handicap in May at Churchill Downs to his credit.
Other Euros named to the International include Grade 1 Northern Dancer champ Sheikhzayedroad, trained by David Simcock who also conditioned Ricoh Woodbine Mile winner Trade Storm; four-year-old Sir Michael Stoute trainee Hillstar, a recent winner of the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup at Newbury; and Bayrir, winner of the 2012 G1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park for the Aga Khan, and now trained by Marco Botti for L.F and G.L Huddy.
Dynamic Sky, Karibu Gardens and Reporting Star round out the Woodbine-based contingent of nominees.
The International is one of Canada’s classic horse races, boasting a roster of winners that has few rivals. Sulamani, Chief Bearhart, Singspiel, All Along, Youth, Dahlia and the mighty Secretariat, have all visited the race’s winner’s circle.
A full list of nominees can be found here: http://weg.bz/tbnoms
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