The 84th Canadian International (G1) became a two-horse race not long after the field of eight broke out of the starting gate for the 1 1/4 mile turf event.
It was a windy and cool day at Woodbine for the race made famous by Secretariat 50 years ago and offering a purse of $750,000.
Once again, Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby sent over a firecracker. The team had won the Woodbine Mile (G1) this year and last, won the International the last time it was held (2021) with Walton Street and a bunch of other Grade 1s in the middle.
NATIONS PRIDE, a beautifully-bred four-year-old by Teofilo (Ire), a son of Galileo (Ire), was a group 1 winner in Germany in July and the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby last summer at Saratoga. A 1 1/4 mile specialist, Nations Pride was targeted for this race early as it had been shortened from 1 1/2 miles this year.
Another successful overseas trainer, Roger Varian, brought ROYAL CHAMPION to Woodbine, another distance specialist although still searching for a Group victory.
James Doyle, riding Royal Champion, let his bay gelding speed to a clear lead early in the International and into the backstretch, William Buick on Nations Pride settled into second place. The pace was not fast – 25.42, 50.07, 1:14.80 – and into the stretch run, Royal Champion was still clear. Buick had to get his colt going in mid-stretch and eventually, Nations Pride got by the leader to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 2:03.65 for a 104 Beyer Speed Figure.
It was 7 1/4 lengths back to Chad brown-trainee Adhamo (Ire), completing the Irish-bred trifecta.
This was the first Canadian International victory for William Buick and second for Appleby..
“James (Doyle) on the lead horse, he knows his fractions”, said Appleby, who was in town for the International. “Turning in (to the stretch), I thought, he’s got us at it. To be fair to William, he had confidence in the horse but the ground, turning into yielding, took his finishing speed off of him. William said class got him through in the end.”
This was the fourth International win for Godolphin, tying for the record with E.P. Taylor’s Windfields Farm.
“The track here, the lovely long stretch, was something we knew he would enjoy,” said Appleby on the decision to bring Nations Pride to Woodbine.
Appleby said the Bahrain Trophy on November 17 would be the next target for Nations Pride, who improved his career record to nine wins in 14 races and over $2.5 million in earnings.
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