Horses based in England, France and Germany are making their way to Woodbine for the $1-million Pattison Canadian International, but the aptly-named World Approval will have a much shorter journey to Canada from his Saratoga home in upstate New York.
Conditioned by Woodbine’s leading trainer Mark Casse, World Approval is one of five Grade/Group 1 winners in a star-studded probable field of nine. The four-year-old Northern Afleet grey, bred in Florida by owners Live Oak Plantation, picked up his top flight score on July 3 when a 1 ¼-length victor over Money Multiplier in the G1 United Nations at Monmouth Park.
Last time out, the multiple graded stakes winner set a tepid pace under regular pilot Julien Leparoux in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes only to be overtaken in the final strides by International rivals The Pizza Man and Wake Forest.
“It’s hard to believe the pace was that slow,” said Casse. “They certainly sprinted home. I’m not sure that’s exactly how he wants to run but I understand that Julien had no other choice.
“It would be nice to see some pace in this race so he has something to run at,” continued Casse. “The other thing that would be nice is if the turf was a little firmer.”
With a record of 6-2-4 from 17 starts and nearly $900,000 in purse earnings, World Approval is always in the thick of it when the real running begins. The grey gelding’s last five starts have come in Grade 1 events which includes a runner-up effort in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and a third in the Manhattan, at Belmont Park.
“If you look at his record, he’s run in nothing but Grade 1 races recently and what’s the farthest he’s been beaten the last six or seven starts? Two lengths? And that was by Flintshire in the Manhattan,” said Casse.
The lone blemish on World Approval’s record this year came in the Arlington Million where he finished seventh, defeated less than two lengths by 2015 Woodbine Mile champ Mondialiste, when sent to post as the mutuel favourite.
“Maybe he was a touch flat. We ran him back quickly in the United Nations, and he won with ease, but I wonder with such a big effort if it didn’t take something out of him,” said Casse. “Plus, it was pretty warm at Arlington and he got a little worked up. I don’t believe he brought his ‘A’ game, but even though he finished seventh he got beat less than two lengths.”
Casse will also saddle Uchenna for owner Gary Barber in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes on the International undercard. The five-year-old Fastnet Rock bay finished off-the-board in the 1 1/8-mile turf stake last season, but will go into the $500,000 event with good recent form having taken the Belle Mahone Stakes over the Woodbine main on September 5.
“We’re taking a shot to try and get some Grade 1 type,” said Casse. “We have the Maple Leaf (a G3 Tapeta stake set for Nov. 5) as a long term target, but we’re here with no other choices and there’s a Grade 1 here at home. As a risk-reward, it’s worth the risk.”
The perpetually busy Casse has a big weekend of racing ahead with runners entered in graded events at Woodbine and Belmont as well as the return of Tepin, the 2016 Ricoh Woodbine Mile champ, in the Grade 1 $400,000 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland.
“She’s doing great,” said Casse of the Eclipse Award winning grass mare that will leave from Post 2. “She drew inside, which we’d prefer to be a little farther out, but we don’t think it’s a big deal.”
Tepin is the 2-5 morning line favourite in a First Lady field of 10 fillies and mares. She extended her winning streak to eight races with a ½-length score over Tower of Texas when defeating the boys in the Woodbine Mile.
Casse acknowledges that Tepin got a lot out of her Woodbine Mile effort which came after a three-month layoff from her score in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, at Ascot.
“She did get a lot out of it. She was tired after but the nice part was that she went back to Saratoga where it was cool and I think that helps her bounce back a little quicker,” said Casse. “Norman (assistant trainer Norman Casse) is very happy with how she’s doing and if Norman is happy then I’m happy.”
EARLY LOOK AT THE G1 $500,000 E.P. TAYLOR STAKES (14)
Horse / Owner / Trainer / Jockey
Aim to Please / Joerg Vasicek / Francois Dourmen / Gerald Mosse
Al’s Gal / Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey / Michael Maker / Florent Geroux
Banzari / Robert Flay / H.F. Devin / TBD
Best In The World / Mr. Michael Tabor, Mr. Derrick Smith & Mrs. John Magnier / Aidan O’Brien / Ryan Moore
Diploma / The Queen / Sir Michael Stoute / William Buick
Guapaza / Don Alberto Stable / Chad Brown / Javier Castellano
Nezwaah / Sheikh Ahmed al Maktoum / Roger Varian / Andrea Atzeni
Parvaneh / Darius Racing / Waldemar Hickst / TBD
Rainha Da Bateria / Lael Stables / Chad Brown / Julien Leparoux
Strut the Course / John Unger / Barb Minshall / Rafael Hernandez
Suffused / Juddmonte Farms / Bill Mott / TBD
Swiss Range / Juddmonte Farms / John Gosden / Lanfranco Dettori
Tuttipaesi / Valor Ladies LLC / Bill Mott / TBD
Uchenna / Gary Barber / Mark Casse / TBD
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