Arabian Crown, Purview ship over for rematch in Canadian International
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The historic Canadian International goes back to 1 1/2 miles on the main turf in Saturday’s renewal of the Grade 1 event at Woodbine. That certainly suits the Group 3 winners Arabian Crown and Purview, who will meet for the second time Saturday on the European-style course, both with Lasix added.
The $750,000 International was contested over the inner turf last year while the main course was being revitalized. It heads an excellent card that includes three other turf stakes – the Grade 2 Nearctic, the Grade 2 Dance Smartly, and the Grade 3 Algonquin.
Arabian Crown should be favored with Jamie Spencer riding for the four-time Canadian International-winning owner Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, the trainer of two of those Godolphin victors.
A 5-year-old gelding bred in France, Arabian Crown left Purview in his wake when leading all the way in the Group 3 Kilternan on Sept. 12 at Leopardstown. That was his first outing since a half-length loss to the imposing veteran Rebel’s Romance in the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s on July 9 at Newmarket. Both of those races were contested over 1 1/2 miles on firm/good ground.
“He traveled very well and quickened away impressively over the final two furlongs,” said Appleby regarding the Kilternan. “He beat a solid Group 3 field that day, and the win has given him a great deal of confidence.
“His performance in the Princess of Wales’s this summer also highlighted his tenacious attitude when he finished second to our stable stalwart, Rebel’s Romance.”
Juddmonte Farm’s Purview capped a three-race winning streak when taking the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free International on June 28 at The Curragh. Off a summer break in the Kilternan, the Dermot Weld-trained 4-year-old rallied from the back of the pack to just miss second while 2 1/2 lengths behind Arabian Crown.
Juddmonte’s European racing manager, Barry Mahon, told England’s At The Races that Purview was unlucky in the Kilternan.
“It was a good run but just didn’t really happen for him on the day,” Mahon said. “He was drawn [outside] and [jockey Colin Keane] said he just couldn’t get a slot in and ended up farther back than he wanted. Then when they turned in, he got a little bit squeezed.”
Mahon said Purview could run back in the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland should he acquit himself well on Saturday. Christopher Hayes has the mount.
Ancient Egypt is the third European invader in the seven-horse field and the lone 3-year-old. Off a narrow loss in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in July, he was favored in the Grade 1 Christophe Clement Turf at Saratoga in August, but the son of Frankel could only manage fourth after failing to flash his customary early foot.
Ancient Egypt was second in the Group 2 King Edward VII at Royal Ascot in June when beaten a neck by Causeway, who disappointed in his next two outings, including in the Grade 2 Nashville at Kentucky Downs. David Egan will ride Ancient Egypt for trainer Charlie Johnston.
Tawny Port is back for another try at the International. The long-winded 7-year-old was beaten a whisker by the gate-to-wire winner Silawi in last year’s renewal.
Based in New York with trainer Miguel Clement, Tawny Port won the 2 1/16-mile Gold Cup Invitational when favored Sept. 9 at Kentucky Downs. He was under consideration for the Nov. 3 Melbourne Cup, to which he earned a fees-paid berth when landing the June 4 Belmont Gold Cup at Saratoga, but won’t be making the trip to Australia due to quarantine requirements.
The local contingent consists of Tomasello and Dancin in Da’nile, who ran one-two in the local prep, the Grade 3 Singspiel.
Trainer Mark Casse predicted an improved run from the erratic Tomasello in the 1 3/8-mile Singspiel. With Lasix added, the towering 4-year-old came through to prevail after a three-wide stalking trip under Emma-Jayne Wilson.
“It was the ideal setup, the way I hoped it would be,” Wilson said. “He settled in behind [the leaders]. It worked out.”
The talented but win-shy Dancin in Da’nile rebounded off a non-threatening fifth in the Niagara Stakes when losing the Singspiel by a half-length. Two of his better performances were a second and third behind Burnham Square in a pair of Churchill Stakes in the spring.
“The farther the race, the better it is for him,” trainer Gail Cox said.
Completing the International lineup is Il Siciliano. Trained by Antonio Sano, the 5-year-old has never won a stakes and is coming off a conditioned allowance score at Saratoga.
Post time for the 11-race card is 1:05 p.m. The International goes as the ninth at 5:30 p.m.
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