Canadian International Has International Cast

Normally having won a race twice in a row would be a great indication of good things the next time around. For Desert Encounter  and the Sept. 18 Pattison Canadian International (G1T) at Woodbine—well, things are not exactly normal.

For one thing, the race wasn't contested in 2020 because of the pandemic, so there's a gap in the consecutive starts. For another, that missing year has bumped the Halling  gelding to 9 years old. And for yet another, Desert Encounter is winless in 15 starts since his 2019 triumph over the E.P. Taylor turf course outside Toronto.

All those considerations leave questions as Desert Encounter faces seven rivals in the 1 1/2-mile test with a purse of CA$600,000.

Ian Russell, traveling head lad for trainer Richard Simcock, has some answers.

"He seems to really enjoy traveling here," Russell said after Desert Encounter drew post 3. "I think when he sees a plane he comes alive because he's looking for the next adventure.

"For as much as he is older, he's enjoying it," Russell added, "and he's showing us the signs that he still wants to do it. I think watching him in his last run, when he was second at Windsor, he's still got a zest for life."

  

In that most recent outing on Aug. 28, Desert Encounter was beaten 3 3/4 lengths by Teona , a 3-year-old filly who went on to an upset win in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) on Arc Trials weekend at Longchamp.  

The "old guys rule" crowd for the International also includes Walton Street , a 7-year-old Cape Cross  gelding who makes his first trans-Atlantic foray for trainer Charlie Appleby, and 6-year-old Fantasioso , who scratched out of the Calumet Turf Cup (G2T) at Kentucky Downs in favor of this spot.

Walton Street was fourth in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan March 27, trailing Mishriff , Chrono Genesis , and Loves Only You . He returned to finish third Aug. 8 in the Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) at Hoppegarten behind the well-respected Alpinista  and Torquator Tasso .

"I think the older he's getting, the wiser he's getting," said traveling head lad Chris Durham. "He ran really well in Germany, for his first time out."

Frankie Dettori visits to take the mount for Appleby.

Fantasioso, trained by Ignacio Correas IV, was a group 3 winner in South America and finished second in the Belmont Gold Cup Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park in June but still seeks his first win in North America.

Corelli , a 6-year-old Point of Entry gelding who won the Singspiel Stakes (G3T) Aug. 21 over the course, and Bluegrass Parkway  also visit from U.S. bases for the International.

The local contingent comprises English Conqueror , Belichick , and Primo Touch — the second, third, and fifth-place finishers from the Singspiel.

Entries: Pattison Canadian International S. (G1T)

Woodbine, Saturday, September 18, 2021, Race 9

• Grade IT
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $600,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:35 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Corelli (KY)	Kazushi Kimura	126	Jonathan Thomas	4/1
2	2Walton Street (GB)	Lanfranco Dettori	126	Charles Appleby	8/5
3	3Desert Encounter (IRE)	Daniel Alexander Tudhope	126	David Simcock	3/1
4	4Bluegrass Parkway (KY)	Patrick Husbands	126	Michael J. Maker	10/1
5	5Primo Touch (KY)	Daisuke Fukumoto	126	Harold Ladouceur	20/1
6	6Fantasioso (ARG)	Joel Rosario	126	Ignacio Correas, IV	8/1
7	7Belichick (ON)	Luis Contreras	126	Josie Carroll	6/1
8	8English Conqueror (ON)	Antonio A. Gallardo	126	Darwin D. Banach	15/1