Sir Evelyn De Rothschild’s Hillstar, brilliantly ridden by champion jockey Ryan Moore, collared the leaders turning for home and went on to post a three-quarters of a length win over Big Blue Kitten in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Sunday at Woodbine.
It was the second consecutive win for Moore in the $1 million turf classic, after piloting Joshua Tree to victory last year, the first time a rider has won consecutive Internationals since the race became a turf event in 1958. It was also the second International victory for world-renowned trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who won the 1996 renewal with Singspiel.
But the complexion of the 77th edition of the race changed dramatically in post parade. In what was a stunning prelude, the 2-1 morning line favourite Brown Panther, winner of last month’s Irish St. Leger at the Curragh, had to be scratched after running off.
Not only was he edgy in post parade, but he got loose shortly thereafter and shockingly bolted past the starting gate, taking off around the course, with jockey Richard Kingscote, his feet out of the stirrups, unable to control him. Kingscote was eventually dropped on the backside by Brown Panther, who then continued his journey alone around the turf course before finally being corralled by the course outrider.
That shocking development left Hillstar as the heavy 6-5 choice and the four-year-old British-bred did not disappoint, after being placed in sixth for much of the mile and one-half journey, as Reporting Star, chased by The Pizza Man, took the field through early fractions of :25.31, :50.34 and 1:15.35 over the ‘good’ going.
After a mile in 1:40.10, The Pizza Man took over, but it was brief, as Moore had Hillstar in gear when the field turned for home. He struck front early into the long E.P. Taylor Turf Course stretch, but was full value for the win, comfortably holding off a belated charge from the 5-2 second choice, Big Blue Kitten and jockey Joel Rosario, while crossing the wire in a final time of 2:29.
Canadian-bred Dynamic Sky came on for third, two lengths further back, with The Pizza Man in fourth.
“I was out a little bit too early but he was fine and plenty and it was going to take a good horse to get by him,” said Moore. “Like Brown Panther, he (Hillstar) was the best horse in the race and just felt we would keep it as simple as we could.
“I am sure the boss (trainer Stoute) had this race as a target from a long way out and it was always something we had in the backs of our minds if things were going well. I moved a bit too early today but he was the best horse and we kept it straightforward again.”
About losing his main opponent, Brown Panther, Moore added, “Coming here we thought we could beat him. He beat us at Chester but there’s always a horse race. It was just very sad for the connections. You bring the horse all the way over here and unfortunately something like that happened. Fortunately the horse looks like he’s okay thought.”
Hillstar, a four-year-old son of Danehill Dancer-Crystal Star, became the eighth British-bred to win, the last being Champs Elysees in 2009. It was also his first Grade 1 win. Last year, he took the Group 2 King Edward VII at Ascot and this year entered off a Group 3 win at Newbury. He’d also finished second four times prior to that effort, after debuting with an off-the-board finish in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March.
One of those second place finishes came in May, when finishing behind Brown Panther in a Group 3 contest to Chester. Another runner-up finish came in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes to his Breeders’ Cup-bound stablemate Telescope.
Hillstar earned $600,000 for the victory, pushing his career bankroll to over $1.2 million while notching his fourth win in 15 starts.
Said dejected jockey Richard Kingscote about Brown Panther’s pre-race antics, “Just before the break, the horse got wound up and unfortunately he got me off. When I got back on, I tried to keep him relaxed and as soon as I let go he bolted. There wasn’t much I could do after that. He’s never done that before. He sometimes dances about and gets on his toes, but he’s never been that extreme.”
“It’s very disappointing,” said Tom Dascombe, trainer of Brown Panther. “Well done to the winner (Hillstar) and the connections of Caspar Netscher (Nearctic Stakes winner). It wasn’t our day today.”
Added jockey Joel Rosario, about runner-up Big Blue Kitten, “I had a good trip. It took him a long time to get into the race, but he ran well. I though the horse that won the race was the best horse today, and I’m glad we got second.”
As the mutuel choice, Hillstar paid $4.50, $2.70 and $2.50, combining with Big Blue Kitten ($2.80, $2.80) for a $13.80 (7-9) exactor. A 7-9-5 (Dynamic Sky, $4.50) triactor returned $86.10, while a $1 Superfecta (7-9-5-2 (The Pizza Man) came back $151.55.
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