THE David Simcock-trained Desert Encounter overcame a slow start to come through between horses over a furlong out and run out a cozy winner of his second Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International in Woodbine last Saturday.
Andrea Atzeni’s mount had half a length to spare over the running-on German runner Alounak with French-trained favourite Ziyad a neck back in third in a six-horse field. He was the first repeat winner of this event since Joshua Tree (2012-13). Atzeni said afterwards he wasn’t the least bit concerned by Desert Encounter’s start. “The plan was always to sit last. The plan was to jump slow and he probably jumped a stride earlier than I would’ve liked.
Connections could set their sights on a third Pattison Canadian International success next year. The David Simcock-trained gelding was registering a fourth win on the bounce after Group 3 wins at Goodwood, Windsor and Newbury, and his team see no reason why Desert Encounter cannot bid to emulate Joshua Tree, who is the only triple winner of the 12-furlong race to date.
Philip Robinson, racing manager for owner Abdulla Al Mansoori, said: “It would be lovely [to return in 2020]. I dare say if he’s still a happy horse like he is now, for sure, he’ll be back. He enjoys it here, why not?
“The last three or four races he’s just never stopped improving, he’s still improving. You expect it maybe from a four- or five-year-old but I think mentally he’s improving so much. He’s enjoying his racing – he’s just in a very happy place this moment.”
In the meantime he may bid to add to his seven-figure earnings next month as connections contemplate a crack at the inaugural running of the Bahrain International Trophy.
The seven-year-old took his prize-money tally past the million-pound mark on Saturday. “The owner [Abdulla Al Mansoori] is very keen to run Desert Encounter in the Bahrain International Trophy on November 22nd,” said Newmarket trainer Simcock. Andrew Balding’s Pivoine also contested the International, but had to settle for fourth.
JOSEPH O’Brien sent over the Curragh Group 2 winner Red Tea to contest the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes over 10 furlongs but despite going off favourite and leading early, she failed to make any impression behind local runner Starship Jubilee, trained by Kevin Attard, who was adding to her Grade 2 Canadian Stakes win here at the last big meeting. Red Tea finished eight of 10.
Attard said: “She was so convincing when she won her last start [the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes] and she came out of that race in great shape. She’s worked really well in the interim and Luis [Contreras] gave her an incredible ride today.”
The Grade 2 Neartic Stakes over six furlongs win to outsider City Boy by a head, an emotional win as his English-born trainer Michael Keogh is fighting cancer and it gave rider Jesse Campbell, a former Queen’s Plate winner, a big win in his last days in the saddle.
Cambier Parc looks another star for Chad
IT was business as usual in Keeneland as Chad Brown picked up his third victory in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes when Cambier Parc led all the way to a length victory.
Cambier Parc took the lead out of the gate and then repelled a bid in the final furlong from Godolphin’s Castle Lady, a clear second in her first start since June.
The Queen’s Magnetic Charm, who pressed the pace before dropping back to finish eighth.
Triple
Ridden by John Velazquez, the victory gave Brown his third win in the race, following Dayatthespa in 2012 and Rushing Fall in 2018.
Winning her second Grade 1, Cambier Parc led the field of eight with Magnetic Charm in closest pursuit.
At the head of the lane, Cambier Parc brushed aside a brief threat from stablemate Regal Glory and had enough in hand to hold Castle Lady at bay in the run to the wire.