Irish St Leger romper Brown Panther rates as the early 2-1 favorite for Sunday's Grade 1, C$1 million Canadian International at Woodbine. The Tom Dascombe charge is one of two European invaders, along with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Hillstar, who will face a North American contingent led by Big Blue Kitten.
Brown Panther will be making a rare foray back at 1 1/2 miles, having spent much of his career over even longer trips. Yet the son of 2005 Breeders' Cup Turf hero Shirocco has been effective at this distance, with scores in the 2012-13 Pontefract Castle. He was also a creditable seventh, beaten all of four lengths, by the mighty Danedream in the 2012 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
In his seasonal reappearance, Brown Panther defeated Hillstar by 2 1/4 lengths in the 13 1/2-furlong Ormonde at Chester. He then returned to the staying races have served as his typical fare, notably annexing the May 29 Henry II Stakes at Sandown and placing in the June 19 Ascot Gold Cup (via disqualification), the July 13 Prix Maurice de Nieuil and the July 31 Goodwood Cup (as the defending champion).
But Brown Panther regained the winning thread in grand style last time out in the 1 3/4-mile Irish St Leger. Pouncing under a brilliant tactical ride by Richard Kingscote, he left reigning Ascot Gold Cup hero Leading Light well back in second. Brown Panther will again have the astute services of Kingscote at Woodbine, where he will break from post 4.
"It was a hugely exciting day and the race went absolutely to plan," Dascombe said of the Irish St Leger. "It was a thrilling result as it was my first Group 1 winner and something I'll always remember. He's won two listed races over a mile and a half and he was just beaten about four lengths in the King George over a mile and a half. As long as there's a nice pace in the race it won't bother him. He won't want a crawl."
Hillstar is pegged at an attractive 5-1 on the morning line, considering that this is arguably his ideal trip. A half-brother to English highweight mare Crystal Capella, the Danehill Dancer colt earned his signature win in the 1 1/2-mile King Edward VII at Royal Ascot in 2013, and came right back to finish third to course record-smashing Novellist in the King George over the same course and distance. Hillstar's subsequent losses in the vicinity of 10 furlongs are excusable, and he has been admirably consistent of late.
Upset by Brown Panther as the 4-5 favorite in the Ormonde, Hillstar was best of the rest behind Breeders' Cup Turf-bound stablemate Telescope in the June 21 Hardwicke at Royal Ascot, a near-miss second to the veteran Cavalryman in the July 10 Princess of Wales's at Newmarket, and runner-up to the progressive Amralah back down in trip for the August 9 Rose of Lancaster at Haydock. Hillstar halted his losing skid in the September 20 Arc Trial at Newbury, beating a classy Godolphin filly in Tasaday. He keeps the inestimable Ryan Moore aboard and gets first-time Lasix here. Hillstar can compliment his BC Turf-bound stablemate Telescope (Frank Sorge/Horsephotos.com) "We're really happy with this fellow," Stoute said. "He didn't handle that track in Dubai, but in England he's been ultra-consistent, he's run some good solid races, won his last at Newbury, comes into the race in good shape and appears to have traveled well. It was very slow ground (his last start) but he's impervious to ground conditions, actually. He goes on any ground. I think a mile and a half is his best trip. He (Brown Panther) beat me at Chester in May but that was an extended mile and five (furlongs). He just outstayed me that day. I would be hopeful I could beat him at a mile and a half."
Big Blue Kitten brings the best resume of the Americans, as the winner of last year's United Nations and Sword Dancer Invitational. Although Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred has yet to scale those heights in 2014, the Chad Brown trainee could be rounding into form after getting a late start to his campaign.
The six-year-old son of Kitten's Joy resurfaced in the August 2 Lure at Saratoga, where he rallied from far back to prevail at a 1 1/16-mile trip short of his best. His late charge fell a half-length short in the August 24 Cliff Hanger at Monmouth, and he could do no better than fourth in the September 27 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont.
Beaten just a couple of lengths by BC Turf contender Main Sequence last time, Big Blue Kitten could offer a clue to the strength of that form. The 3-1 second choice on the morning line, he gets a key rider switch to Joel Rosario on Sunday.
Three runners are exiting the course-and-distance prep, the September 14 Northern Dancer Turf. While the victorious Sheikhzayedroad is staying home in England for Saturday's Champion Stakes, hard-charging runner-up Dynamic Sky; Reporting Star, the early pacesetter who dug in gamely in third; and fifth-placer The Pizza Man are all back for the Canadian International.
Dynamic Sky and Reporting Star both turned in career-best BRIS Speed ratings that day, but The Pizza Man is capable of better. At his home base of Arlington this summer, the son of English Channel compiled a three-race winning streak highlighted by the Stars and Stripes and the American St Leger. On that evidence, he has the measure of both Suntracer and O'Prado Ole.
Suntracer, who has often settled for minor awards over his 35-race career, broke through with his biggest career win in the September 13 Kentucky Turf Cup. The Team Block runner went last to first to edge Pyrite Mountain, with War Dancer a further 2 3/4 lengths astern in third and O'Prado Ole fourth.
Of those last seen in the Kentucky Turf Cup, War Dancer has perhaps the most appeal. The Ken McPeek charge was an ultra-game winner over Suntracer in the May 24 Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs, a close third in the July 12 Arlington Handicap, and a useful fourth in the August 17 renewal of the Sword Dancer. War Dancer crossed the wire 2 1/4 lengths behind Main Sequence, a formline that ties in neatly with Big Blue Kitten's. Local ace Luis Contreras picks up the mount on the War Front colt.
Europeans likewise hold a strong hand in Woodbine's marquee turf race for distaffers, the Grade 1, C$500,000 E.P. Taylor over 1 1/4 miles.
English shipper Just the Judge was most recently a closing third in the August 16 Beverly D. at Arlington, only a neck adrift of runner-up Stephanie's Kitten. The latter has since garnered the Flower Bowl en route to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and Just the Judge hopes to join her at Santa Anita with a strong showing here. Trained by Charlie Hills, last year's Irish One Thousand Guineas heroine is the one to beat with regular rider Jamie Spencer.
Fellow raider Odeliz has yet to win a Group race, but the Karl Burke filly has been paying her way with minor awards all year. Holding on for second by a head from the belatedly closing Just the Judge in the June 6 Princess Elizabeth at Epsom, Odeliz comes off placings in the August 30 Atalanta at Sandown and the September 21 Denny Cordell Lavarack at Gowran. She needs to improve in this spot, and the addition of Moore could make the difference.
Andre Fabre dispatches Eyeful in a eye-catching spotting. The Wertheimer et Frere homebred takes a transatlantic class hike off a narrow stakes score at Saint-Cloud. Rounding out the raiding party is Wall of Sound, a stablemate of Brown Panther's from the Dascombe yard. Her two stakes placings represent deep formlines -- a half-length second to Secret Gesture in the June 16 Warwickshire Oaks and a third to Hadaatha in the September 17 John Musker Trophy at Yarmouth.
The lone U.S.-based hope is Angel Terrace, who rolled from well back to take the September 24 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon. Florent Geroux retains the mount for Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard.
Heading the home team is Sam-Son Farm's homebred Deceptive Vision, a resounding 2 1/2-length winner of the September 14 Canadian. The full sister to Canadian champion Eye of the Leopard has been on an upward trajectory all summer, and looks ready to take the next step for trainer Malcolm Pierce.
Canadian runner-up Royal Fury has a tough task to reverse the form, but fourth-placer Meri Shika could be a sleeper. Victorious in the 1 1/2-mile Flaming Page two starts back, the Roger Attfield filly was improving late in the about 1 1/8-mile Canadian, and will prefer the added ground.
Also on Sunday, Lockout could find the key to the Grade 2, C$300,000 Nearctic. The Mark Casse pupil has reinvented himself as a turf sprinter this season with placings in both the Highlander at this six-furlong trip and the Play the King. Sixth in the September 14 Woodbine Mile, Lockout promises to enjoy reverting in distance.
Other contenders include the streaking Dreamsgonewild, who upstaged Maryland icon Ben's Cat in the September 27 Laurel Dash; Excaper, only ninth in the 2013 Nearctic but victorious in the Connaught Cup here May 31; recent Bold Venture scorer Calgary Cat; six-time stakes winner Paso Doble, still looking for his first career win on turf; Big Blue Spirit, a solid fifth in the Kentucky Downs Turf Dash last out; Upgrade from the Brown barn; and English shipper Caspar Netscher, who has yet to win since returning from a subfertile stint at stud but will find this a class drop.
Presque Isle Downs Masters runner-up Disco Barbie tops the cast in the Grade 3, C$150,000 Ontario Fashion on the Polytrack. Silent Treat has tended to do better in restricted company, but warrants respect off her sharp second in the grassy Avowal and her 10-5-2-1 local mark. Defending champion Youcan'tcatchme has gone winless since wiring this six-furlong dash last fall, while Native Bombshell returns from a year-long layoff for Brown. She was last seen getting up in time in the 6 1/2-furlong Ruling Angel 358 days ago.