Desert Encounter Victorious in Pattison International
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Photo: Michael Burns
Desert Encounter captures the Pattison Canadian International at Woodbine
A hard-charging Desert Encounter made his first foray into North American racing with a bang Oct. 13, overtaking Thundering Blue in the final strides to win the $800,000 Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine.
A trip across the pond proved to be well worth the journey for Desert Encounter. Abdulla Al Mansoori's 6-year-old gelding has raced almost exclusively in the United Kingdom since making his debut in 2014, with moderate success. His most recent score for trainer David Simcock came in the Aug. 25 Sri Lanka August Stakes at Windsor.
After he finished third last out in the Sept. 22 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup (G3) at Newbury, a race he won last year, connections shipped the son of Halling to Ontario to test his luck on the Canadian turf.
Desert Encounter broke next to last out of the gate, and 3-year-old Bandua, the youngest runner in the field, shot to the front to set the pace.
Still on the lead as the field reached the mile marker in 1:16.17, Bandua tried to save ground but tired significantly entering the stretch and was set upon by favorite Thundering Blue, who overcame a bump at the start to charge up the middle and take the lead midstretch.
Angling out near the three-sixteenths pole, Desert Encounter and jockey Andrea Atzeni finally found enough room to carve a path to the front and stormed forward from the back of the field to third, a half-length behind Tiz a Slam, who attempted to issue a late challenge to Thundering Blue.
With a final surge on the outside, Desert Encounter edged by Thundering Blue and checked his rival, forcing him to the inside toward the rail as he moved forward to the wire to complete the 1 1/2-mile test in a final time of 2:28.88.
It was another 4 1/2 lengths back from Thundering Blue to Focus Group in third. Tiz a Slam, Spring Quality, Markitoff, Johnny Bear, Bandua, English Illusion, Khan, and Funtastic completed the field.
"He traveled good into the race, and I followed the favorite all the way through, Thundering Blue," Atzeni said. "I thought he was the one to beat and he's a horse that's got such a high cruising speed... and he's actually got a very good turn of foot as well. You can't get to the front too soon because once he gets to the front, he thinks he's had enough. But he's a horse that has a lot of ability, and it's great for the team at home, great for David and the owner and everybody involved."
Sent off at odds of 8-1, Desert Encounter returned $18.20, $7.90, and $5.40.
"He got a great ride, saved ground all the way around, pulled out when he needed to," racing manager Philip Robinson said. "I thought the horse was going to run second, but he pulled it out. The other English horse had quickened up well, and I thought, 'Well, he's gone and won the race, we're going to run second,' but he found another gear in the last 200 (meters) and it was all over.
"I think David Simcock has been here, the trainer, on a few occasions and loves it, and I think he's had this race in mind for a long time for this horse. He always said this is the race for him, and he set out his program for him throughout the whole season with this aim, to come here, and it's worked out, so he's got it dead right."
Bred in Ireland by Tally-Ho Stud, Desert Encounter is the first foal out of the Invincible Spirit mare La Chicana. He was purchased for $54,086 by Rabbah Bloodstock from the Tally-Ho consignment to the 2013 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
The Pattison marked the first grade 1 score for Desert Encounter, who improved his record to 8-4-5 from 23 starts with $757,333 in earnings.