ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Desert Encounter will look to win Saturday’s Grade 1, $800,000 Canadian International Stakes for the second consecutive year when he faces five rivals in the 1 1/2-mile journey around Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The Great Britain-based runner will look to become the first horse since Joshua Tree in 2012-13 to win back-to-back runnings of the Canadian International, and comes into this year’s edition in strong form, with wins in his last three starts. Owned by Abdulla Al Mansoori, he won the Group 3 Queen’s Plate Glorious Stakes at Goodwood on Aug. 2 to begin his streak before going on to win the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes on Aug. 24 at Windsor, and the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup at Newbury on Sept. 21. “He’s been very consistent this year,” trainer David Simcock said. “And he seems to be in good order.” Simcock has had success sending European runners to Woodbine, with four graded stakes wins from 12 starts here going back to 2011. Along with Desert Encounter’s win in the Canadian International last year, Simcock has also won the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes with Sheikhzayedroad and the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile with Trade Storm. Those wins came on the same day in 2014. European runners have won nine of the last 10 editions of the Canadian International, and the field includes four European-bases horses, including even-money morning-line favorite Ziyad. The French-based Ziyad comes off a win in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville. Pivoine, another European entrant, was second to Desert Encounter in the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup at Newbury on Sept. 21. Rounding out the European contingent is Alounak, who won a Group 3 event at Baden Baden in Germany in his most recent start on Aug. 24. Nessy finished second in the local prep for this event, the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes on Sept. 14, and ships back to Woodbine for trainer Ian Wilkes. Pumpkin Rumble completes the field for Woodbine-based trainer Kevin Attard after setting a course record at Parx in the restricted Alphabet Soup Handicap in his most recent start on Sept. 21. Key Contenders Desert Encounter, by Halling ◗ Desert Encounter sat off of the pace in last year’s Canadian International before rallying by the favored Thundering Blue in the stretch. He earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. ◗ Jockey Andrea Atzeni was aboard Desert Encounter for last year’s Canadian International, and has the mount once again this year. Ziyad, by Rock of Gibraltar ◗ With his rail draw, he could find himself on the front end in a field that is lacking early speed. ◗ The runner-up from his victory at Deauville, Soft Light, went on to finish sixth in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last weekend. Pivoine, by Redoute’s Choice ◗ He’s making his second trip to North America this season after running fifth in the Grade 1 Arlington Million Stakes back on Aug. 10. He earned a 93 Beyer. ◗ He faced Desert Encounter last time out at Newbury, encountering some traffic trouble in the late going before running on well once clear. Nessy, by Flower Alley Last 3 Beyers: 97-86-95 ◗ He was away slowly but closed into a strong early pace in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes in his most recent start. While no match for Old Persian, he did nose out Focus Group and Tiz a Slam for second. ◗ Trainer Ian Wilkes said Nessy has been pointed toward the Canadian International for a while. “We were always earmarking him for the two races at Woodbine this year,” he said. Alounak, by Camelot ◗ Two starts back, he faced Group 1 company at Hoppegarten, where he finished fifth. Old Persian, winner of the Northern Dancer, finished third in that race. “We were not so happy with the tactic that day,” said trainer Waldemar Hickst. “With a better trip he might have even finished closer to Old Persian.” Pumpkin Rumble, by English Channel Last 3 Beyers: 90-88-93 ◗ He was third behind Tiz a Slam in the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes earlier this year here on turf, but synthetic may be his preferred surface.