Irish-bred Mondialiste and jockey Feargal Lynch rallied furiously down the stretch to edge favoured Lea and win the $1 million, Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile, a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In race, on Sunday.
As expected, dual Grade 1 winner Obviously, making his seasonal debut, blasted from the gate and opened six lengths early on over a yielding E.P Taylor Turf Course, while being chased by Reporting Star and Lea.
Obviously and jockey Talamo, who set fractions of :23.21, :46.63 and 1:11.52, were still in front in deep stretch, but the challengers were charging – Lea on the outside, who appeared to briefly poke his head in front before Mondialiste stormed between them to secure the half-length score. Obviously gamely hung on for the show spot, another length and one-quarter further back, with Kaigun only a neck behind in fourth. The final time was 1:36.66.
Mondialiste, a five-year-old son of Galileo, thus became the first Irish-bred to win the Ricoh Woodbine Mile in its 19 editions. He’d arrived in Canada on a two-race win streak, including his latest, the Strensall Stakes at York on August 22, the same mile and one-eighth race that last year’s Ricoh Woodbine Mile winner Trade Storm had used as his prep when finishing second.
There was a brief stewards inquiry after the race involving the winner and the third place finisher but there was no change in the official order.
It was a day of firsts – for co-owners Geoff and Sandra Turnbull, for trainer David O’Meara and for jockey Lynch, aboard Mondialiste for the first time, all making their first Mile appearance a triumphant one.
“I got a little bit far back early,” explained Lynch. “I was a little bit concerned as how far back we were. We saved a lot of ground. We stuck to the plan to come late. It was going to be a long run down the stretch. We just took our time and the horse had an awesome turn of foot. He just really galloped over top of them. It made my job easy.
“I was expecting it (the turn of foot). I knew the leaders would come back. It’s the longest stretch in Canada. We have the turf horses in England that have got a turn of foot and can actually see out these trips really well.”
Said O’Meara, “He is very tough. You can ride him whatever way you want really. He’s always sort of there for you when you go for it. He always finishes well. Everything sort of looked good with him, but it is always a concern when you fly him that far from home, like eight hours or whatever we’ve come. But fantastic, a great run.”
An elated Geoff Turnbull added, “A fantastic day. A fantastic event. We’ve had a wonderful time here. People have been great. The horse has been great. The trainer has been great. It finished off a great day with a wonderful win.”
Now Mondialiste’s connections will have to assess the possibility of a start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, October 31 at Keeneland, since the victory earned the horse an all-expenses paid trip (travelling expenses and entry fee) to the big day.
The race was reduced to nine starters after Grand Arch and Za Approval were scratched in the morning.
“I had a good trip,” said jockey Joel Rosario, about the 2-1 choice Lea. “Turning for home, I could see the horse on the lead (Obviously) and for a second, I knew I had him (measured), but the winner came on strong. It was a real close finish at the end. He really handled the turf well and put in a very good run today. It’s too bad the other horse came with such a strong run.”
Commented trainer Phil D’Amato, about Obviously, “He tried. He had everything going against him here with the soft turf course. He gutted it out and gave it his all. I think this sets him up really nice for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
“That’s his game (quick fractions). He’s going to go. He’ll go as fast as he can go, for as far as he can go. For the first time out in 10 months in a Grade I $1-million race, on a surface he’s never run on, I think this was a big effort on his part.”
The mutuel handle was a record $7,187,062 for the Ricoh Woodbine Mile card, edging the 2014 mark of $7,004,235.
As the 7-2 third choice, Mondialiste, who earned $600,000 for the win, paid $9.60, $4.50 and $3.20, combining with Lea ($3.50, $2.70) for a $39.40 (7-10) exactor. A 7-10-1 (Obviously, $2.90) triactor came back $122.50 while a $1 Superfecta [7-10-1-9 (Kaigun)] was worth $402.25.
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