DESERT ENCOUNTER, the 2018 winner of the Grade 1 Canadian International, is expected to be back for this year’s edition on Oct. 12.

Owned by Abdulla Al Mansoori and trained by David Simcock, the seven-year-old gelding has returned to top form after a messy spring with three straight Group 3 wins including the  Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes for a second time at Newbury on Sept. 21.

Simcock told the media following the victory,  “He’ll go and try to repeat his win from last year in the Canadian International at Woodbine. He flies over to Canada two weeks today. “We came here knowing he would be a little better for the run as he needs one run to take him to another.”

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