Sheikhzayedroad could return to Canada for Canadian International

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – In the Grade 1, $313,600 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes, David Simcock had to survive a lengthy inquiry for another one of his runners, Sheikhzayedroad, but the original results were left to stand and the trainer captured the first Grade 1 stakes on Sunday’s card. (He later captured the Woodbine Mile with Trade Storm.) With his win in the Northern Dancer, Sheikhzayedroad could make a return engagement to Woodbine next month to run in the Grade 1, $1.5-million Canadian International on Oct. 19.

“We’ve always had the Canadian International as an end-of-the-season target,” Simcock said. “There’s not a lot for him in England. We have a prior engagement on exactly the same weekend as the International. I’ll have to speak to the owner, but my feeling is he’ll come back here.”

Simcock said Sheikhzayedroad would head back to England before he decides on whether to run the horse in either the Canadian International or the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot on Oct. 18, but Simcock believed Sheikhzayedroad would return to Canada.

“He’s probably not a Group 1 horse in England,” the trainer noted. “Without being disrespectful, it’s probably slightly easier here, slightly easier in Dubai, and slightly easier in America. The race he’s in at Ascot is very, very good, and it would be a slightly easier step to come here for nearly as much money.”