Old Persian Travels Overseas for Northern Dancer Turf

Godolphin's group 1 winner Old Persian is set to make his North American debut Sept. 14 in the $300,000 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1T), a 1 1/2-mile marathon for 3-year-olds and up on Woodbine's E.P. Taylor turf course.

The 4-year-old Dubawi colt started 2019 with two victories at Meydan, topped by the March 30 Dubai Sheema Classic Sponsored by Longines (G1).

"I think he has come of age, and tonight was his way of telling us so," trainer Charlie Appleby said after the Classic win. "He's the son of Dubawi, and he was out to show this as well. I liked the way he took full advantage of the gap when he got it. After that, there was no catching him. This is one of the most fantastic runs that he has come up with, and we couldn't have asked anything more from him."

Old Persian has since run seventh in the May 31 Investec Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom and third in the Aug. 11 Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) at Hoppegarten, where he closed to finish one length behind winner French King and a head behind runner-up Communique.

Appleby's head lass, Sophie Chretien, accompanied the world traveler to Woodbine.

"The trip was perfect. It was a good flight, he was relaxed, and everything went fine on that side," Chretien said. "He settled in very nicely, and he went on the track on Monday and Tuesday, just to get used to the place. So far, so good. He seems quite happy with himself."

Old Persian is 4-for-7 at the Northern Dancer distance and has raced exclusively at 12 furlongs this year.

"It's a long straight to the finish, and that will suit him. Here in Canada, I think it will suit his style of running," Chretien said. "He does like some pace. It's a big, galloping track. I think he will like that. In his last race in Germany, I was not there, but I watched it on TV after. That day—he has some turn of foot, don't get me wrong—but you need some pace for that. He probably would not have beaten the winner, but he could have run a bit better in a way, I think."

James Doyle will travel in to ride Old Persian, who will break from the rail as the 126-pound highweight.

Among the five rivals waiting to greet the European invader is the strong local contender Tiz a Slam. Chiefwood Stable's 5-year-old son of Tiznow  has won three consecutive stakes going 1 1/2 miles on the lawn, including the July 28 Nijinsky Stakes (G2T) and June 22 Singspiel Stakes (G3T) on his home turf. The Roger Attfield trainee has led every step of his past three outings and drew away by 4 1/4 lengths in the Nijinsky, in which he set a course record of 2:24.45.

Tiz a Slam dueled throughout last year's Northern Dancer with Godolphin's Hawkbill and faded late to finish sixth, beaten two lengths by repeat winner Johnny Bear. Regular jockey Steven Bahen will ride Tiz a Slam, who drew the outside stall.

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Focus Group will look to rebound from three off-the-board finishes. The 5-year-old son of Kitten's Joy  won his seasonal debut by a nose in the March 30 Pan American Stakes (G2T) going the same distance at Gulfstream Park but has not shown that same rally since. Joel Rosario has been named to ride the Chad Brown trainee for the first time, and they will break from post 3.

Tiz a Slam and Focus Group will carry 123 pounds.

Rounding out the field is Nessy, a grade 3 winner who was third, beaten three-quarters of a length, by Tiz a Slam in the May 18 Louisville Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs; Cooler Mike, winner of the Aug. 28 OLG Halton Stakes Presented by Tipperary Equestrian against fellow Canadian-breds at Woodbine; and Sir Sahib, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Nijinsky and Singspiel.

Entries: Northern Dancer Turf S. (G1T)

Woodbine, Saturday, September 14, 2019, Race 10

• Grade IT
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $300,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 6:17 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Old Persian (GB)	James Doyle	126	Charles Appleby	1/1
2	2Cooler Mike (ON)	Patrick Husbands	119	Nicholas Nosowenko	20/1
3	3Focus Group (KY)	Joel Rosario	123	Chad C. Brown	5/2
4	4Nessy (KY)	Luis Saez	119	Ian R. Wilkes	8/1
5	5Sir Sahib (KY)	Luis Contreras	119	Kevin Attard	12/1
6	6Tiz a Slam (ON)	Steven Ronald Bahen	123	Roger L. Attfield	3/1