Sheikhzayedroad rallies to win Northern Dancer

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – English invader Sheikhzayedroad rallied along the rail to take Sunday’s Grade 1, $313,600 Northern Dancer Turf but had to survive a claim of foul after the 12-furlong turf marathon before he collected the first prize of $180,000.

Reporting Star set moderate fractions while being stalked by last year’s Northern Dancer winner, Forte Dei Marmi. Sheikhzayedroad bided his time in ninth on the backstretch before closing strongly in the lane to prevail by a half-length over a wide-closing Dynamic Sky in 2:32.37 over a course labeled good.

In deep stretch, the winner appeared to come out into the path of a fading Reporting Star, who finished third. Reporting Star’s rider, Justin Stein, claimed foul, but the result stood after a long inquiry.

Martin Lane rode Sheikzayedroad ($8.30) for Rabbah Bloodstock LLC Lessee and trainer David Simcock.

“The race couldn’t have worked out any better,” said Lane. “I came along the inside all the way. When we straightened up, he picked it up all the way to the line. He probably got a length up, and the wire is a little more daunting than it is back home. He just had a look at it and slowed down himself, so it cost him more than [anybody].”

Villandry finished fourth, and the 6-5 favorite The Pizza Man weakened to fifth after racing prominently. Completing the order of finish were Aldous Snow, Perfect Timber, Karibu Gardens, and Forte Dei Marmi.