Desert Encounter Repeats in Canadian International
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Photo: Michael Burns
Desert Encounter (black hood) wins the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine
Desert Encounter missed the break in the CA$800,000 (US$606,261) Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1T), but the delayed start didn't keep the 7-year-old Halling gelding from rallying for a repeat victory Oct. 12 at Woodbine.
Jockey Andrea Atzeni was aboard for the winning ride and reunited with Desert Encounter for the first since last year's Canadian International.
"The plan was to jump slow, and he probably jumped a stride slower than I would have liked," Atzeni said. "But it's a mile and a half, it's a long way, it's a small field. So we were never panicking. The plan was always to sit last and come through them. So I wasn't too worried about it.
"He's a good horse, he likes it here. He loves the ground. And I think he's actually a better horse than he was last year."
Trained by David Simcock for Abdulla Al Mansoori, Desert Encounter entered the Canadian International off a trio of group 3 scores in England. He is the first horse to score back-to-back victories in the race since Joshua Tree in 2012-13.
As the gates opened Saturday for the six-horse field, Desert Encounter was still in post 4 as Ziyad took advantage of the rail and led the field over Pumpkin Rumble and Pivoine. Nessy was in fourth ahead of Alounak, and Desert Encounter patiently took up the rear.
Ziyad opened the 1 1/2-mile turf event with fractions of :26.31, :52.26, 1:16.93, and 1:41.23, with the order remaining unchanged. After a mile, Ziyad was under pressure as Alounak and Desert Encounter began to wind up from the back of the field. Desert Encounter split foes and got up by half a length.
The final time was 2:28.62 on a turf course rated good.
"Coming into the straight, obviously, I had options," Atzeni said. "I could have gone around them, but I decided to go inside. I thought (Ziyad) was the one to beat, and I tracked him up through the straight and picked him up very nicely. He was the best horse in the race."
Alounak bested Ziyad for second by a neck. Pivoine, Pumpkin Rumble, and Nessy completed the order of finish.
Desert Encounter was bred in Ireland by Tally-Ho Stud. He is out of the Invincible Spirit mare La Chicana, who is a daughter of Always Friendly, a group 3 winner and runner-up in the Prix Royal Oak (French St. Leger, G1). La Chicana is also a full sister to group 2 winner Allied Powers. She last produced a 2018 Vadamos filly.
Desert Encounter has a 12-4-7 record from 31 races and earnings of US$1,317,309.
Mansoori's racing manager, Philip Robinson, didn't rule out another return trip to Woodbine in 2020 and a chance to join Joshua Tree as the only three-time winner of the Canadian International. Joshua Tree first won the race in 2010 and was second in 2011.
"It would be lovely," Robinson said. "I dare say if he's still a happy horse like he is now, for sure, he'll be back. He enjoys it here. Why not?
"The last three of four races, he's just never stopped improving. He's still improving. You expect it maybe from a 4- or 5-year-old, but I think mentally he's improving so much. He's enjoying his racing. … He's just in a very happy place this moment."