Euros will have something to say in E.P. Taylor

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Red Tea and Imperial Charm are both bringing important Group 1 European form to Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 E.P. Taylor, a 1 1/4-mile turf race for fillies and mares on the Canadian International undercard at Woodbine.

A durable 6-year-old trained by Joseph O’Brien, Red Tea won her next-to-last start in the Killboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh while carrying 135 pounds. She finished third in her last race in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.

“She’s been running pretty well,” said Gary O’Connor, an assistant to O’Brien. “The last race, she missed the break. It was a good run behind Coronet. She wasn’t beaten very far. If she runs to that, she should have a good chance. She’s a pretty tough mare. She seems to be in good form. She traveled well. I think the ground will suit her.”

Imperial Charm, a 3-year-old trained by Simon Crisford, had a busy spring campaign in France, which included a fourth in the Group 1 French 1000 Guineas. She was freshened during the summer, and wound up third in a one-mile stakes at Longchamp when she returned to action Sept. 5.

“[The layoff] was when the ground was really fast,” said Les Reynolds, an assistant to Crisford. “She had quite a harrowed start [to the season], so she had a bit of a break.”

There’s rain in the forecast for Saturday, and Reynolds said a little cut in the ground would be suitable for Imperial Charm.

“It would be ideal if we had a little rain, but this is a lovely track,” Reynolds said.” It’s got a lovely cover of grass. It should ride good. She’s run some fine races in Group 1’s at a mile and at a mile and a quarter. I think a mile and a quarter is more to suited to her than a mile.”

The local stalwarts Holy Helena and Starship Jubilee are among the 10-horse field.

Holy Helena’s career is winding down. Victorious in the 2017 Queen’s Plate, she got this past summer off after taking the Grade 2 Dance Smartly June 29, and was a flat fourth when coming off the bench Sept. 14 in the Grade 2 Canadian.

“She probably needed that race,” said Dermot Carty, a racing consultant for Stronach Stables. “That’ll tighten her up for the [Taylor]. I’m confident that she’ll run very well.”

The two-time Canadian champion turf female Starship Jubilee is coming off an easy gate-to-wire score in the about nine-furlong Canadian on yielding ground. She was a front-running fourth in last year’s Taylor at a distance that’s beyond her best.

Rounding out the field are A.A. Azula’s Arch, Durance, Gaining, Platane, Secret Message, and Si Que Es Buena.