Brown Panther Hunts for Canadian International Glory

Brown Panther gets a bath at Woodbine ahead of Sunday's Canadian International. (Photo by Michael Burns/WEG Photo)
The 77th running of the Grade 1, $1-million Pattison Canadian International Stakes features a pair of international stakes winners in Brown Panther (Group 1 Irish St. Leger) and Hillstar (Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial Legacy Cup). 
The race lines up these foreign invaders against eight North American runners led by Suntracer and Pyrite Mountain, most recently first and second, respectively, in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes. Other horses with graded stakes credentials at this marathon distance include The Pizza Man (Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Stakes), War Dancer (Grade 3 Louisville Handicap) and Big Blue Kitten (2012 Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes).
Contenders:
Brown Panther just won the Irish St. Leger at The Curragh in September at the distance of 1 ¾ miles, one of the most prestigious races in Europe at a marathon distance. Brown Panther has a record of five-for-seven at this mile and one-half distance and his regular jockey, Richard Kingscote, crosses the pond to ride him once again.
With 10 wins in 24 career races and with a 123 Timeform Figure (equivalent to about a 117 Equibase Speed Figure), Brown Panther appears to have the class as well as the stamina to win this year's Canadian International.
Hillstar finished second to Brown Panther the only time they faced each other, in the Diamond Ormonde Stakes in Great Britain last May. After that, Hillstar finished second in four straight top level stakes. The best effort came when missing by a neck to Cavalryman in the Princess of Wales Stakes at Newmarket in July.
In his most recent race, Hillstar won the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial Legacy Cup with jockey Ryan Moore in the saddle, who will ride the colt in this race. Having earned a 121 Timeform Figure (equivalent to a 115 Equibase figure) in his most recent race and never worse than third in four tries at the Canadian International distance, Hillstar must be considered a strong contender.
DYNAMIC SKY

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Dynamic Sky gets slight preference among the North America-based contingent. He proved this in his most recent race when second, beaten a half-length, last month in the Northern Dancer Stakes on the Woodbine turf course. Earning a 113 speed figure in that effort and with the winner of that race (Sheikhzayedroad) not entered in the International, Dynamic Sky has the potential to improve and psot the mild upset in this race.
The rest of the field (with best representative Equibase Speed Figure): Big Blue Kitten (120), O'Prado Ole (112), Pyrite Mountain (107), Reporting Star (110), Suntracer (109), The Pizza Man (112) and War Dancer (108).
My Selections:
Brown Panther
Hillstar
Dynamic Sky

$1-million Pattison Canadian International Stakes
Woodbine, Sunday, Race 6, Post Time 3:32 PM ET
1 1/2 miles, Turf, for 3-year-olds and older

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

M/L

1

O'Prado Ole

Channing Hill

Dale Romans

20-1

2

The Pizza Man

Florent Geroux

Roger Brueggemann

6-1

3

Suntracer

Carlos Marquez, Jr.

Chris Block

12-1

4

Brown Panther

Richard Kingscote

Thomas Dascombe

2-1

5

Dynamic Sky

Patrick Husbands

Mark Casse

15-1

6

War Dancer

Luis Contreras

Kenny McPeek

12-1

7

Hillstar

Ryan Moore

Sir Michael Stoute

5-1

8

Pyrite Mountain

Jamie Spencer

Todd Pletcher

12-1

9

Big Blue Kitten

Joel Rosario

Chad Brown

3-1

10

Reporting Star

Justin Stein

Pat Parente

20-1