Cannock Chase Takes Canadian International

Favored Cannock Chase rallied strongly in the stretch under Ryan Moore to win the $1 million Pattison Canadian International (Can-IT) at Woodbine Oct. 18.

Owned by Rabbah Bloodstock and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Cannock Chase is a 4-year-old colt by Lemon Drop Kid  . Up With the Birds finished second, with Rabbah Bloodstock-owned Sheikhzayedroad third and Kaigun fourth in the 1 1/2-mile turf event.

Cannock Chase, bred in Kentucky by Hascombe Stud, paid $7.50 to win. Moore also won the E.P Taylor Stakes (Can-IT) on the Woodbine card with Curvy.

BALAN: Curvy Hits Pay Dirt in E.P. Taylor Stakes

There was little movement in the Canadian International until the field turned for home. Triple Threat, generally an off-the-pace type, inherited the lead soon after the start and set fractions of :25.44 for the opening quarter-mile, :50.95 for the half-mile, 1:16.54 for six furlongs, and 1:41.46 for one mile. He was tracked by Reporting Star, Kaigun, and Power Ped with little change in the running order.

The fairly soft pace, however, didn't hurt the chances of the late runners. Up With the Birds took dead aim at the lead in mid-stretch but had to contend with Cannock Chase, who at one point had dropped back to the 10th. Cannock Chase blew by and had 1 1/2 lengths on Up With the Birds at the finish.

Fast-closing Sheikhzayedroad, who rallied from last in the 11-horse field, finished a length behind Up With the Birds.

Cannock Chase completed the distance in 2:29.26. In his previous start Sept. 25 at Newmarket, Cannock Chase and Moore teamed to win the 1 1/2-mile Sakhee Godolphin Stakes.

"Michael (Stoute) has done a very good job with him," said Bruce Raymond of Rabbah Bloodstock. "The horse had a few problems, but since he has been stepped up to a mile and half, he has been doing well. He's a very good horse at this distance."

Raymond said Rabbah Bloodstock purchased Cannock Chase at Newmarket for $400,000. "He was a good buy," he said.

Moore, who won his third consecutive Canadian International, said Cannock Chase was brought along slowly by Stoute and has developed into "a very good horse." When asked after the race if he had something left in the tank, Moore said: "He won easy."