Sheikha Reika Reigns in E.P. Taylor Stakes
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Photo: Michael Burns
Sheikha Reika wins the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine
The softened going of the Woodbine course was not exactly what Sheikha Reika's camp would call ideal for the 3-year-old filly's running style. And as the tepid early fractions went up on the board during the Oct. 13 edition of the $500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T), they were yet another factor working against the daughter of Shamardal in her North American debut.
Once jockey Andrea Atzeni started going to work on his mount in the stretch of the 1 1/4-mile test, however, all of those supposed obstacles became non-factors.
Atzeni made trips to Woodbine before, but he has never departed with as many happy memories as he is now set to cart back to his Newmarket base. After guiding Desert Encounter to the win in the $800,000 Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1T) earlier on the card, the jockey completed a sweep of the track's top-level events on the day when he got Sheikha Reika home by three-quarters of a length over late-running Golden Legend in the E.P. Taylor.
International shippers have a history of taking home the hardware during their time in Toronto, and Sheikha Reika firmly added to that tradition for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. The Roger Varian-trained filly earned her trip to Woodbine following a win in the E.B.F. Stallions John Musker Stakes at Great Yarmouth Sept. 19 and finished in the top two in all but one of her previous seven outings.
The big-bodied filly thrives over fast ground, Atzeni said, but even the give in the Woodbine turf couldn't stymie her acceleration as she came with a three-wide bid in the stretch.
"She is a big mare, and the ground is probably slow—a little bit 'dead' for her," said Atzeni, who has been aboard for all of Sheikha Reika's starts. "She's a better filly over fast ground, but she got the job done today, which is the main thing.
"The pace was a bit slow, but it turned into a little bit of a sprint. That's why she sort of took her time to hit top gear, but when she hit top gear, she went on to win in the end."
Local fan favorite and Sovereign Award winner Starship Jubilee tussled with race favorite Santa Monica at the start of the race, before the former assumed control in the nine-horse field. As Starship Jubilee opened up a couple of lengths while cutting fractions of :26.77 and :52.68, Atzeni kept Sheika Reika clear to the outside in fourth.
"I think she would've won a bit more comfortable if the race had gone a bit faster," said assistant trainer Michael McGowan. "The ground was a bit loose, which doesn't suit her—she likes fast ground, so I was a bit worried because the leaders went slow enough to stay where they were."
The easy early going allowed Starship Jubliee to still hold a two-length advantage at the head of the lane, and by midstretch it looked like the Canadian champion was going to have enough in reserve to score her first grade 1 win. With about 70 yards to go, the full might of Sheikha Reika's kick became apparent as she hit the wire in 2:05.10 over a course rated good, with Golden Legend getting up by a neck for second over Santa Monica.
"The last 50 yards, she really picked up and took off," McGowan said.
Starship Jubilee settled for fourth, with graded stakes winner Proctor's Ledge fifth.
Sheikha Reika rewarded those who backed her at 6-1 odds in earning her third win from eight starts. Bred in France by Mark Johnston Racing out of the Tobougg mare Screen Star, she improved her earnings to $287,753.