Arabian Crown leads a new European invasion in the Canadian International
TORONTO, Ontario (Special for Turf Diario).— Charlie Appleby will aim to extend Godolphin’s outstanding momentum at Woodbine with the son of Dubawi, coming off a victory in the Kilternan Stakes (G3). Purview and Ancient Egypt complete a formidable overseas contingent in the 2,400-meter Canadian G1 feature, where Tawny Portranks among the prime local defenders
TORONTO, Ontario (Special for Turf Diario).— Woodbine became especially fertile ground for Charlie Applebythroughout September, and the Godolphin conditioner is determined to keep capitalizing on it. After shipping across the Atlantic from England to capture a pair of G1 events last month, he returns this Saturday for another major prize on the Canadian calendar, sending out Arabian Crown in the Canadian International Stakes (G1-2,400 m, turf, CA$750,000).
The son of Dubawi will be making his North American debut, supported by a record that features 6 wins from 13 career starts, along with proven back class against several rivals who subsequently showcased their quality on this side of the Atlantic.
However, his most compelling reference is far more recent. Arabian Crown comes off a victory on September 12 in the Kilternan Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown, contested over the exact same 2,400-meter trip he faces at Woodbine.
At 5 years old, he appears to have recaptured the consistency that marked the start of his career, when he won four of his first five outings.
His subsequent defeats are equally easy to justify.
Two starts back, he finished just a half-length behind Rebel’s Romance (Dubawi) in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes(G2) at Newmarket. Few efforts offer a better measure of form: Godolphin's seasoned veteran is a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).
A year earlier, Arabian Crown had finished third in that same event behind El Cordobes (Frankel), who later captured the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1), and Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko), who went on to take the Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes (G3).
Even earlier in his career, he fell short against Silver Knott (Lope de Vega), a multiple G2 winner and four-time G1-placed runner in the United States.
Now, he must prove whether those credentials can translate into a major victory during his maiden transatlantic voyage. Jamie Spencer will be in the saddle, departing from post position one.
Europe arrives in force Arabian Crown will not be the only visitor carrying strong credentials. Purview, trained by Dermot Weld for Juddmonte, will cross paths with him once again after finishing third in the Kilternan.
The son of Kingman previously won the International Stakes (G3) on June 28 at The Curragh, and likewise arrives with ample distance experience.
The third European card will be Ancient Egypt, representing Amo Racing and Charlie Johnston. The G1-placed son of Frankel in Europe is already familiar with North American racing, having finished fourth on August 15 in the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (G1)—formerly known as the Sword Dancer—at Saratoga.
That same performance serves to introduce another prominent figure in the Canadian International.
Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile) also comes out of that race, though his connections initially had a far more distant target in mind.
The Peachtree Stable representative earned a "Golden Ticket" to the Melbourne Cup (G1) by winning the Belmont Gold Cup Stakes (G2) over 3,200 meters, but Miguel Clement confirmed he will ultimately not travel to Australia.
The decision comes after Tawny Port reaffirmed his stamina over marathon trips by capturing the Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational Stakes (G3) over 3,300 meters on September 9 at Kentucky Downs.
The question mark arises over the 2,400-meter distance. Despite his outstanding form over even longer journeys, he holds an unplaced record over a mile and a half, with 11 starts yielding 3 seconds and 2 thirds without a win.
Locals bring experience Among those already thoroughly familiar with Woodbine are the top two finishers from the Singspiel Stakes (G3), contested there on September 5 over 2,200 meters.
Tomasello (Authentic), carrying the colors of Ironhorse Racing Stable and T-N-T Equine Holdings, prevailed that afternoon by a half-length and will once again face Dancin in Da’nile (Pioneerof the Nile), who closed strongly to finish second.
The field is completed by Il Siciliano (Yoshida), who takes a steep step up in class for trainer Antonio Sano.
The Korina Stable runner enters off an August 8 victory in an allowance optional claimer over 2,200 meters at Saratoga and now gets his first test against top-level competition.
For Appleby, however, the surroundings are intimately familiar. His stable demonstrated throughout September that shipping from England to Woodbine can be a highly lucrative venture. Arabian Crown arrives on the rise, proven at the distance, and possessing form lines that connect directly to some of the finest stayers in the world. Now he must show he can transform those credentials into another G1 victory for Godolphin in Canada.
