Desert Encounter may target Dubai in 2019

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer David Simcock added another Woodbine Grade 1 to his list of career achievements on Saturday when the English-based Desert Encounter won the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes by a length over another European invader, Thundering Blue.

Simcock has now won four graded stakes at Woodbine since 2014. The English-based trainer captured the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile with Trade Storm and the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes with Sheikhzayedroad on the same day in September 2014, and then came back to Woodbine the following month to win the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes with Casper Netscher. He also sent out Sheikhzayedroad to a third-place finish in the Canadian International in 2015.

While Simcock was not at Woodbine for Desert Encounter’s victory on Saturday, Philip Robinson, racing manager for owner Abdullah Al Mansoori, acknowledged Simcock had zeroed in on the Canadian International as a long-term goal for Desert Encounter early in the season.

“I think David Simcock has been here on a few occasions and loves it, and I think he’s had this race in mind for a long time for this horse,” Robinson said. “He always said this is the race for him and he set out his program for him throughout the whole season with this aim to come here, and it’s worked out, so he’s got it dead right.”

As for what’s next for Desert Encounter, Robinson said Dubai could be a primary target in early 2019, but a race in Asia before then might be possible.

“There’s no plans at the moment, but the owner will definitely want to go to Dubai for the big World Cup meeting,” he said. “He might have a run in between. Whether he goes to Hong Kong or Japan, we’re not sure yet.”