Mondialiste, World Approval expected for Woodbine Mile
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Mondialiste and World Approval top a field of 11 expected in Saturday’s Grade 1, $800,000 Woodbine Mile.
Mondialiste rallied to win the Woodbine Mile over Lea in 2015. A 7-year-old son of Galileo, Mondialiste is winless in seven starts this year, all overseas, with his most recent victory coming in last year’s Grade 1 Arlington Million. He is one of four European shippers expected in the field.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has two Woodbine Mile probables: Deauville, who was third in last month’s Arlington Million, and Lancaster Bomber, who was second in the Group 1 St. James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting in June. Trainer Charlie Hills will send Dutch Connection, who won the Group 3 Weatherbys Racing Bank Supreme Stakes at Goodwood in his most recent start Aug. 27.
Also shipping for the Woodbine Mile is Arod, who was fifth in this race last year and has made his last six starts in Australia.
Meanwhile, World Approval, the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap winner, will be looking to give trainer Mark Casse his second consecutive Woodbine Mile win after Casse won last year with Tepin. Casse will also send out Grade 2 Play the King Stakes winner Conquest Panthera.
The local contingent is also represented by Tower of Texas for trainer Roger Attfield, Glenville Gardens for trainer Sid Attard, and Dragon Bay for trainer Stu Simon.
Rounding out the list of probables for the Woodbine Mile is Long On Value, who was second in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan back in March.
◗ Woodbine’s Jackpot Hi-5 pool almost didn’t make it to Saturday’s mandatory payout, as there were just two winning tickets on Sunday which produced a consolation payout of $22,798.97 each. Woodbine announced last week that it will suspend Jackpot Hi-5 wagering for the Wednesday and Friday cards, and will pay out the entire pool Saturday for the Woodbine Mile card. The carryover stands at $1,425,365.45.
