Interpol Seeks Second Grade I in Pattison

JMJ Racing Stables' Interpol has caught much of the betting public by surprise in his last two upset victories, but he won't be sneaking up on anyone in the $1 million Pattison Canadian International Stakes (Can-IT) Oct. 18 at Woodbine.



A longshot winner in his last two races—the Sky Classic Stakes (Can-IIT) at 21-1 odds Aug. 16 and the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by HPIBet (Can-IT) at 10-1 Sept. 13, both on the Woodbine grass—the 4-year-old English Channel   colt trained by Sid Attard will face a stout field of 10 other horses in the 1 1/2-mile test, including the two that finished immediately behind him in the Northern Dancer.



NOVAK: Interpol Springs Upset in Northern Dancer



Augustin Stable's Habibi, a graded stakes-placed 6-year-old Ekraar mare, returns to challenge males again after finishing a half-length behind in the Northern Dancer. Grade II winner Triple Threat also checked in third in the Northern Dancer.



The rest of the field isn't short on class, either.



European imports Sheikhzayedroad and Second Step both have top-level credentials.



Rabbah Blodstock's Sheikhzayedroad swooped into Woodbine last year to win the 2014 Northern Dancer—the 6-year-old Dubawi gelding's only North American start—but has been winless in eight starts since, albeit against quality competition in England and Dubai.



Second Step, winner of the Grosser Preis von Berlin (Ger-I) two starts back in August, also ships across the Atlantic. The Dalakhani gelding was also victorious in the Jockey Club Stakes (Eng-II) at Newmarket in May.



Also in the field is grade I winner Up With the Birds, who took the Jamaica Handicap (gr. IT) in 2013 and the Nijinski (Can-IIT) in 2014, but is winless in 2015.



Grade II winners Kaigun and Reporting Star, along with graded stakes-placed Power Ped and Danish Dynaformer and English group III victor Cannock Chase, complete the field.