Euros to begin shipping in for Canadian International

ETOBICOKE, Ontario − Five shippers from Europe and four from the U.S. are among the prospective field of 12 in Saturday’s Grade 1, $2 million Canadian International at Woodbine.

The first wave of the European contingent − Arctic Cosmos, Redwood, Chinchon, and More Wells − is scheduled to arrive from overseas Tuesday. Joshua Tree is expected to arrive Wednesday.

Arctic Cosmos and Redwood are coming off their biggest wins. Arctic Cosmos scored in Doncaster’s Group 1 St. Leger at about 1 13/16 miles over “good” going Sept. 11, and Redwood scored in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer over 1 1/2 miles on firm turf here Sept. 19.

Chinchon won the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth over 1 3/8 miles on grass this summer but finished sixth in Longchamp’s Group 2 Prix Foy in his only subsequent start.

Mores Wells captured the Group 3 Stockholm International Cup at taby over about 1 1/2 miles of turf in his last outing Sept. 12.

Joshua Tree is coming off a fifth-place in the St. Leger, which was restricted to 3-year-olds.

American invaders Cloudy’s Knight, Marsh Side, Al Khali and Memorial Maniac will arrive by Thursday morning.

Marsh Side and Cloudy’s Knight are previous winners of the Canadian International; Marsh Side won it in 2008, and Cloudy’s Knight won it in 2007.

Al Khali captured the Grade 2 Bowling Green, a 1 3/8-mile turf race at Saratoga, in his last start Sept. 11, and Memorial Maniac finished fifth in the Northern Dancer.

Spice Route works five furlongs

Spice Route, one of the three locally based candidates for the Canadian International, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 here Friday under exercise rider Melanie Giddings. The work was done on the main track because the training track turf session was canceled.

Trainer Roger Attfield watched Spice Route work in company and said he was not pleased with the outcome.

“It was a so-so work,” he said. “It got messed up a little bit. It’s hard to read anything into it.”

Spice Route finished fourth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths, in the Northern Dancer in his last start.

The other home team candidates are Simmard, who was third by a neck in the Bowling Green last time out in his first start in almost eight months, and Forty Proof, an Ian Black trainee who was second in the Northern Dancer.

Windward Islands taking a break

Windward Islands, who finished third in the Northern Dancer, has been put away for the season.

“He’s left for the farm in Florida,” said Mark Frostad, who trains the 6-year-old gelding for Sam-Son Farm. “We’d decided the International was going to be coming up way too tough, and to give him a little break. He’s done very well for us this year.”

The Northern Dancer was the third start of the season for Windward Islands, who earlier had won the Grade 2 Nijinsky and finished second in the Grade 2 Sky Classic, earning a total of $312,500.

Bridgetown first shipper to arrive

Saturday’s blockbuster card will include two other Grade 1 turf races: the $1 million E.P. Taylor at 1 1/4 miles for fillies and mares and the $500,000 Nearctic at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up.

As many as nine European horses are expected in the E.P. Taylor. The Nearctic is also expected to have a large field, including European shippers Amico Fritz, Balthazaar’s Gift, and Serious Attitude.

Bridgetown, a candidate for the Nearctic, is the first shipper to check in for Saturday’s card. Most recently based at Saratoga for trainer Ken McPeek, Bridgetown arrived Thursday and has taken up temporary residence in the barn of trainer Brian Lynch.

The Nearctic would be the second local appearance for Bridgetown, a 3-year-old who earned an automatic berth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with his victory in the Grade 3 Summer Stakes at one mile on the grass.

Robert Landry rode Bridgetown in the Summer and was back aboard when the colt led most of the way before being beaten three-quarters of a length as the runner-up in the Juvenile Turf.

After following up with a fourth-place finish in Hollywood Park’s Grade 1 Generous over one mile on grass Nov. 28, Bridgetown did not resurface until this summer and has won both of his starts: the $70,000 Latham, an overnight stakes at Saratoga, and the $104,000 Gilded Time at Monmouth Park. Both races were run over 5 1/2 furlongs on turf and were restricted to 3-year-olds.

Something Extra looks to get even

Something Extra, runner-up to Bear’s Future in the seven-furlong Swynford, will be looking to turn the tables in the 1 1/16-mile Grey here Sunday.

Trained by Gail Cox, who also owns Something Extra in partnership with John Menary, Something Extra put in a couple of funny steps after the Swynford and her rider, David Clark, dismounted.

“She was a bit wobbly after the race,” Cox said. “It might have been a little bit of heatstroke. Once we got her back to the barn, she cooled out fine.”

Something Extra, a Kentucky-bred who was purchased for $85,000 at Keeneland last fall, was making his fourth career appearance in the Swynford and will travel around two turns for the first time.

“I always thought he would want to go two turns,” Cox said. “He surprised us with his speed.”

Biofuel freshening up in Kentucky

Biofuel, the leading candidate for the Sovereign Award in the 3-year-old filly category, was on her way to Kentucky on Friday and will be freshening up on the farm of her owner, Brereton C. Jones.

“She’ll be joining me at Palm Meadows around the first of January,” trainer Reade Baker said.

Biofuel was perfect in four stakes appearances here and finished second and third in two Grade 1 stakes in New York.

◗ The Toronto Thoroughbred Racing Club will be holding its monthly meeting here Wednesday, Oct. 13, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The annual Ladies Night will be featured with special guests including the renowned handicapper/writer Jennifer Morrison; jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson; and Janis Maine, racing manager for her husband Reade Baker’s stable.