Woodbine: Europeans begin to arrive for International, E.P. Taylor

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The first wave of the European invasion checked in late Monday evening with five candidates for the $1.5 million Canadian International and four for the $1 million E.P. Taylor arriving following a flight from Amsterdam.

Quest for Peace and Arctic Cosmos, the 1-2 finishers in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on good going at Ascot, head the early arrivals for the Canadian International, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and upward.

Both horses should have their regular riders on hand Sunday, with Kieren Fallon slated to ride Quest for Peace for trainer Luca Cumani and William Buick named on the John Gosden trainee Arctic Cosmos.

Bronze Cannon, Mikhail Glinka, and the filly Sarah Lynx were the other Canadian International candidates on the flight.

The field for the Canadian International will be announced at a ceremonial draw here Thursday in the trackside tent.

Dennis Rodman, who recently was inducted into the National Basketball Association’s Hall of Fame, will be the guest drawmaster.

As of Tuesday morning, there were 17 candidates for the Canadian International, which would have an 18-horse limit.

That number includes Winchester, who is based at Belmont with Christophe Clement and is on the bubble.

Joshua Tree, Mores Wells, and Redwood, the top three finishers in last year’s Canadian International, were scheduled to arrive Tuesday evening with Treasure Beach, who will be trainer Aidan O’Brien’s representative, due on Wednesday morning.

Rahystrada, the lone confirmed American representative, is scheduled to van up from Kentucky on Thursday.

On Tuesday Rahystrada breezed four furlongs in 49.80 at The Thoroughbred Center, where he is trained by Byron Hughes.

Older horses will carry 126 pounds under the weight-for-age terms of the Canadian International while the 3-year-olds Quest for Peace, Treasure Beach, and locally based Celtic Conviction would get in with 119 pounds and Sarah Lynx with 123 pounds.

◗ Adventure Seeker, winner of Longchamp’s Grade 2 Prix Liancourt over about 1 5/16 of firm turf in her last start, checked in for the E.P. Taylor along with fellow Europeans Dream Peace and Kinky Afro.

Laughing, Mahbooba, Sea of Heartbreak and Strawberry Daiquiri were to follow Tuesday evening for the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor, a 1.25 mile turf race for fillies and mares which is shaping up with a field of 13.

◗ Sunday’s third Grade 1 turf feature, the Grade 1 Nearctic for 3-year-olds and upward, seems likely to attract a limit field of 14.

Bated Breath, Bewitched and Hitchens were due in from Europe on Tuesday evening for the Nearctic.