Old Persian Finds Clear Sailing in Northern Dancer Turf

Godolphin's Old Persian traveled across the Atlantic to return to his winning ways and picked up his second top-level score this year as he drew clear to win the CA$304,200 (US$228,911) Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine Sept. 14.

The 4-year-old Dubawi colt was the hero of the Dubai Sheema Classic Sponsored by Longines (G1) at Meydan two starts back, followed by a seventh-place run in the Investec Coronation Cup (G1) and Epsom before improving to third in the Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) at Hoppegarten.

"He didn't run great in the Coronation back at Epsom there after a good run in Dubai," said Alex Merriam, assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby. "We were pleased enough with his run in Germany, and I think the ground was a bit on the soft side for him there. But James (Doyle) gave him a nice ride today and it worked out well."

Appleby sent Old Persian overseas for the first time to compete in the Northern Dancer. Doyle settled the 3-5 favorite in a distant third as Cooler Mike attempted to go all the way, setting opening fractions of :24.82 and :47.63 through the first third of the 1 1/2-mile marathon with a 12-length lead.

The pacesetter held on for three-quarters in 1:11.88 and a mile in 1:37.77 before local runner Tiz a Slam, who was coming off three graded stakes wins, took over from second and ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.09.

Old Persian made his bid at the three-sixteenths pole and left behind the North American contingent. The bay was 2 1/2 lengths in front when he hit the wire in 2:27.78 on a turf course rated good.

"From the minute he stepped foot on the track, he wasn't really 100% concentrating," Doyle said. "He was more enjoying the crowd rather than what was going on in front of him, which is amazing because he's run some cracking races at Meydan and there is no bigger stand than that.

"But, obviously, we were a bit concerned early. He missed the break, but they went pretty quick and we were able to muster some speed down the fence to secure a bit of space. We had a very clean trip all the way through. He's a powerful stayer at this trip with a good turn of foot and when the pace came up in the stretch, he excelled and sprinted away nicely."

Nessy, a 23-1 shot, rallied from last to nab second in a photo finish between Focus Group (third on the outside) and Tiz a Slam (fourth on the inside). Sir Sahib and Cooler Mike completed the order of finish.

The Northern Dancer Turf victory improved Old Persian's record to 9-1-2 in 16 starts with US$4,349,231 in earnings.

Merriam said Old Persian will return to Europe before Appleby and connections decide on future race plans.

Old Persian was bred by Godolphin in Great Britain and is the first foal out of the Singspiel mare Indian Petal. His half brother Chapelli is twice stakes-placed in England, and Indian Petal also has a Pivotal 2-year-old filly named Renaissance Queen, a yearling Dubawi colt, and a Night of Thunder colt born April 12.

Video: Northern Dancer Turf S. (G1T)