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Top three from last year's Canadian International renew
rivalry
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| Joshua Tree (right), Mores Wells (center) and Redwood (left) will find it hard to top last year's thriller
(WEG/Michael Burns Photography) |
Joshua Tree, Mores Wells and Redwood, who served up a climactic three-way
photo in the Grade 1
Canadian International a year ago, are among a record
16-strong field lined up for Sunday's C$1.5 million renewal at Woodbine. Last
year's trifecta is just part of a massive European invasion, which also includes
the Aidan O'Brien-trained Treasure Beach and John Gosden's well-regarded Arctic
Cosmos, in this potential stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Much has changed for defending champion Joshua Tree. No longer owned by the
Coolmore principals or trained by O'Brien, he sports the colors of K.K. al
Nabooda and R.A. Albahou. Joshua Tree wintered in Qatar, where he won one of
four starts, and then joined trainer Marco Botti in England. Joshua Tree checked
in second in a salty conditions event at Newmarket, beaten by subsequent Group 3
winner French Navy, and defeating E.P. Taylor contender Mahbooba.
Next time, Joshua Tree was no match for Danedream in the Group 1 Grosser
Preis von Baden. His 13-length drubbing didn't look as bad, however, when
Danedream came back to conquer the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in record
time. Adam Kirby picks up the mount aboard the 5-1 chance, who has drawn post 7.
Joshua Tree seeks to become only the third horse to win this race twice since it
was moved to turf, following George Royal (1965-66) and Majesty's Prince (1982,
1984).
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The seven-year-old veteran Mores Wells has also changed trainers this year,
having switched to Mikel Delzangles. Yet two things remain the same. Mores Wells
once again prepped in the Group 3 Stockholm Cup International at Taby, finishing
a close second as the defending champion, and Sebastien Maillot will be back in
the saddle aboard last year's near-miss runner up.
Redwood has been installed as the lukewarm 4-1 favorite on the morning line.
The winner of the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf over this same course and 1
1/2-mile distance in 2010, the Juddmonte Farms homebred missed by a grand total
of a head when third as the 2-1 choice in the Canadian International. Redwood
went on to finish second in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase, the Group 1 Dubai Sheema
Classic and the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes before checking in fourth as
the defending champion in the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at Goodwood on July 29.
With trainer Barry Hills having retired in the interim, his son Charlie Hills
has taken over responsibilities in the yard. Regular rider Michael Hills,
Charlie's brother, will guide the consistent five-year-old from post 10. Redwood
will try to break more alertly than he did here last year.
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| The battling Treasure Beach will be better suited to this spot than his rabbit's role in the Arc
(Four Footed Fotos) |
The respective top three of 2010 need to step up to duplicate those placings this time. O'Brien is back with Treasure Beach, who brings a much
stronger resume than Joshua Tree did 12 months ago. Nailed just before the wire
in the Group 1 Epsom Derby, he captured the Group 1 Irish Derby and Grade 1
Secretariat. Treasure Beach was sacrificed as the pacemaker in the Arc, but the
resolute grinder is entitled to rebound as the 9-2 second choice with more
typical tactics. Colm O'Donoghue, who masterminded Joshua Tree's victory, will
try to work out a sensible trip from post 13.
Arctic Cosmos had planned to compete here last year after a convincing score
in the Group 1 St Leger, but his Woodbine dream was deferred by a cannon bone
injury. Returning from a year-long layoff in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge at
Ascot, he ran a terrific second to Quest for Peace, despite being forced to
quicken far too early. Arctic Cosmos is eligible to take a big step forward in
his second start back, and the 6-1 shot will save all of the ground from post 2
with stable rider William Buick.
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The improving sophomore Quest for Peace recently left O'Brien. Privately sold
and transferred to Luca Cumani, he made a winning debut for his new connections
in the Cumberland Lodge. Kieren Fallon will renew his partnership with the 8-1
dark horse, who is well drawn in post 5.
Trainer Herman Brown will send out two for Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov
-- Bronze Cannon and Mikhail Glinka. A multiple Group 2 winner for former
trainer Gosden, Bronze Cannon showed something of his old spark when runner-up
in the Group 3 September Stakes over Kempton's Polytrack. The September winner,
Modun, was subsequently purchased by Godolphin with a view toward the Group 1
Melbourne Cup. Mikhail Glinka, yet another ex-O'Brien inmate, has found life
difficult since taking the 2010 Group 3 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. Neither was
done any favors by the draw, with Mikhail Glinka in 12 and Bronze Cannon in 15.
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| Arctic Cosmos was deprived of a chance to run here last year because of injury
(WEG/Michael Burns Photography) |
Rounding out Team Europe is rail-drawn Group 2 heroine Sarah Lynx, who hopes
to become the first female to win since Infamy in 1988. The John Hammond filly
was most recently fourth in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille. The Vermeille third,
Shareta, has since finished second in the Arc.
The United States fields a single representative in multiple Grade 3 victor
Rahystrada. The Byron Hughes charge book-ended a fifth in the Grade 1 Arlington
Million with scores in the Colonial Turf Cup and Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Turf.
Julien Leparoux has the call.
Six Canadians seek to defend their home turf, led by the Roger Attfield duo
of Simmard and Musketier. Simmard narrowly yielded in the local prep, the
Northern Dancer Turf, to the late-running Wigmore Hall, who was set to run in
Saturday's Champion Stakes at Ascot. The nine-year-old Musketier will be making
an overdue first appearance in the Canadian International. The winner of the
last two runnings of the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland, the gray has been
freshened since his non-threatening fifth in the Grade 2 Sky Classic.
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Likely pacesetter Kara's Orientation ran his rivals off their feet in the 1
1/4-mile Sky Classic, opening up by 17 lengths before hanging on by 2 1/4
lengths at the wire. He then folded to 11th in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, and
stretches out here in his first try at this distance. Kara's Orientation figures
to flash speed from post 14, and it will be up to Joel Rosario to nurse him the
rest of the way.
Former claimer Laureate Conductor reported home fourth in the Northern Dancer
as the 69-1 longest shot on the board. Miami Deco, who shocked last year's
Breeders' Stakes at odds of 65-1, exits a third to Rahystrada at Kentucky Downs.
Celtic Conviction missed by a nose in this year's Breeders' and again lost
narrowly in the restricted Vice Regent. Like fellow three-year-olds Treasure
Beach and Quest for Peace, Celtic Conviction gets in with 119 pounds, seven
fewer than the older males and four fewer than Sarah Lynx.
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