Dartmouth Represents the Queen at Woodbine

Queen Elizabeth II will not be at Woodbine Oct. 16 but will be represented by her first Canadian runner with Dartmouth entered in the $1 million Pattison Canadian International (Can-IT).

A 1 1/2-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and older, the Canadian International attracted a field of nine.

A 4-year-old Dubawi colt, Dartmouth is one of nine entered in the 1 1/2-mile Canadian International, which is comprised of four shippers from Europe, four from the United States, and locally based Danish Dynaformer.

Dartmouth is trained by Sir Michael Stoute and at Woodbine in the care of assistant Kerry Jones, who is well aware of the significance of her role.

"I find it actually nice (to have a horse running for the Queen) and I'm very proud to represent her," Jones said. "She's a great ambassador for the sport and knows her horses.  

"We treat them like any owner's horses, but sometimes, at the end of the day, we do kind of think, 'Oh please win for the Queen'."

Dartmouth has been a model of consistency throughout his career but has displayed notable improvement this season and will look to win his first grade or group I in the Canadian International.

After winning back-to-back group III stakes this spring, Dartmouth took the next step by defeating Highland Reel in the Hardwicke Stakes (Eng-II) at Royal Ascot June 18.

Third in a rematch with Highland Reel in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-I) July 23, Dartmouth was away from the races for eight weeks, then finished second in the Legacy Cup (Eng-II) at Newbury Sept. 17.

"He could sit anywhere in the race," Jones said. "It's not like he'll struggle with the rider. He's very laid back. Nothing fazes him."

Stoute has won the past two runnings of the Canadian International, with Cannock Chase (2015) and Hillstar (2014). He also sent out Ask to finish second in 2007 and won the 1996 edition with Singspiel.

LAMARRA: Cannock Chase Takes Canadian International

William Buick, riding in his third Canadian International with a fourth and a third to his credit, has the call on Dartmouth for the first time.

Also invading from across the ocean with strong credentials are Idaho, Protectionist, and Erupt.

Idaho, who is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line and the only 3-year-old in the field, boasts high-octane connections in trainer Aidan O'Brien; owners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derek Smith; and jockey Ryan Moore.

The Irish-bred colt, who is a full brother to Highland Reel, also boasts a solid racing résumé, which includes a third-place finish in the Epsom Derby (Eng-I), a second in the Irish Derby (Ire-I), and a sharp score in the Great Voltigeur (Eng-II) at York.

In his previous start, as the 3-5 favorite in the St. Leger (Eng-I), Idaho stumbled coming out to launch his rally and unseated rider Seamie Heffernan.

"He's a well-balanced horse," said Kieran Murphy, the traveling head lad who is at Woodbine with Idaho. "You can ride him any way you want."

German-bred Protectionist, the 3-1 second choice, has rebounded in a big way at age 6. He is undefeated in three starts in his homeland, with the latest success coming in the Grosser Preis Von Berlin (Ger-I).

LEWYN: Protectionist Makes All in Preis von Berlin

Owned by Australian Bloodstock, Protectionist traveled to Australia to win the Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) in 2014, but failed to reproduce that form in eight starts Down Under last season.

Erupt shipped in from France for Flaxman Holdings and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, and has been blanked in four starts this year while racing in group I and group II company. The 4-year-old Irish-bred colt did, however, take Longchamp's Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I) last summer for his fourth win of 2015.

Heading the American contingent will be The Pizza Man, Wake Forest, and World Approval, who finished 1-2-3 in the Northern Dancer Turf (Can-IT) over the Canadian International course and distance.

NOVAK: The Pizza Man All Class in Northern Dancer

"Everything's good with him since then," said The Pizza Man's trainer, Roger Brueggmann. "He's doing real well."

German-bred Wake Forest moved over to Chad Brown's barn in 2015 after beginning his career in his home country, where he scored twice in group III races.

The 6-year-old has stepped up his game in North America, winning Belmont Park's Man O' War (gr. IT) and just missed a second grade I score by a neck in the Northern Dancer.

ANGST: Wake Forest Surges Past Rivals in Man o' War

"He ran well over the course," Brown said. "I'm sure this race will be tougher than his last race, competition-wise, but it seems logical to take a shot for a million dollars."

World Approval, who missed by a total of a half-length when he tried 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the Northern Dancer, has been an improved runner this year at 4 and became a grade I winner in the United Nations at Monmouth Park.

BALAN: World Approval Impresses in United Nations

"I think he handled it fine—I just don't know if that's his preferred distance," trainer Mark Casse said of World Approval's front-running Northern Dancer effort. "It was a weirdly run race. I know he prefers to have a little bit of a target."

Danish Dynaformer, trained by Roger Attfield for Charles Fipke, represents Canada's chance in the Canadian International. The homebred 4-year-old colt who was beaten 3 1/4 lengths as the fifth-place finisher in the Northern Dancer, became a grade III stakes winner in the Singspiel at 1 1/2 miles on the Woodbine grass in July.

"It's a great field, and it will be difficult to win," Attfield said. "But I think if the turf is firm, he's going to run a competitive race."