Horse-by-horse guide: Canadian International

By Peter Fornatale

Three European-trained runners cross the Atlantic for the Canadian International (22:30, Saturday) at Woodbine, headed by the Juddmonte-bred Purview for Dermot Weld - a trainer who needs no introduction when it comes to international raids.

The four-year-old will have to contend with Arabian Crown, who beat him at Leopardstown three weeks ago and draws the rail here - from where he can dictate - and the progressive three-year-old Ancient Egypt, whose form reads better than it looks once you factor in the set-ups he's been running against. Two locals with course-and-distance experience in last year's runner-up Tawny Port and the fourth Dancin In Da'Nile add further depth to this field of seven. 

Let’s take a look at them all from the rail out…

#1 ARABIAN CROWN

Jockey: Jamie Spencer | Trainer: Charlie Appleby

A Charlie Appleby speedster who will likely try to take the sword to the field early from this inside draw, though he’ll likely have to contend with Tomasello and perhaps event Ancient Egypt up front. The James Doyle ride from that day is worth watching - a perfect job of seizing control, slowing things down, encouraging others to go wide, and still having enough left for the finish. His figures and form fit nicely for a North American Grade 1, as his close-up finish to Rebel’s Romance in the Princess of Wales’ Stakes at Newmarket two back indicates. He also benefits from the fact that while this is no easy task, it’s not a Grade 1+ either, with many in this division preferring to wait for the Breeders’ Cup. The ground can be an issue for him - he’s been more consistent on better going - but the forecast looks dry. I don’t think he’ll have it as easy as he did last time in terms of the trip, but he’s still a contender.

#2 DANCIN IN DA'NILE

Pietro Moran | Gail Cox

Dancin In Da'Nile finished second behind Tomasello in the Grade 3 Singspiel, the local prep for this, where he had a nice set-up for his late run but just couldn’t get by. His career-best effort might have come in this race last year, when he finished fourth beaten 2¼ lengths to earn a 97 speed figure, though he hasn’t won a race in his last 12 tries going back to the autumn of 2024. He belongs in the race, but it feels like a third-place finish would be his ceiling.

#3 PURVIEW

Chris Hayes | Dermot Weld

Purview had the worst of the trip by some way against Arabian Crown last time in Ireland, when he was against what seemed like a speed-favouring flow and was also carried wide. However, I’d rate him on ability terms as equal with the winner. His fastest races, like the Group 3 International Stakes at the Curragh two back, are the best in the field. He was given July and August off, so I think you can project improvement for his second race back from the lay-off here. He’s also a lightly-raced four-year-old, so it’s even easier to project improvement. The trip should work out better as well, with other speeds in here to keep Arabian Crown honest. A major contender.

#4 IL SICILIANO

Rafael Hernandez | Antonio Sano

The United States-shipper finally broke through at the allowance ranks to get his second win in 22 starts when last seen at Saratoga. He has tried stakes races six times without ever making the frame, and all of those races were easier than this. In a shorter-field tactical contest, it’s possible he could get third or fourth with the right trip, but a top-two finish feels out of reach just on the fundamentals of form study.

#5 ANCIENT EGYPT

David Egan | Charlie Johnston

I was keen on his chances in the Grade 1 Christophe Clement at Saratoga, but he underachieved a bit there, earning a 95 Beyer speed figure when his figure translations suggested he was capable of 100 or better. It was an odd ride/trip for Ancient Egypt in there: he broke slowly and was far back in a slow pace. Then he moved into the fast part of the race and was ultimately no match whatsoever to a devastating late turn of foot from Survie, who despite being even further back was able to run much more efficiently before quickening home. I also thought Ancient Egypt didn’t look terribly comfortable on the yielding ground. He deserves another shot on this more-galloping course and on better ground, hopefully with a more-typical race shape. He has a ton more speed than he showed in the Clement, so he's a big player.

#6 TOMASELLO

Emma-Jayne Wilson | Mark Casse

Tomasello won the local prep (Grade 3 Singspiel) with a stylish effort, tracking a fast pace, going clear and then hanging on in the lane. That can probably be upgraded a point or two, but it still remains to be seen whether he wants the added ground here. The recent worktab looks sharp, which might be an indicator that he’s ready to step forward, although he’ll really have to - his top sped figure of 92 doesn’t get him in the frame. Ultimately, I think he has too much to find, but he could still have a major impact on the outcome if he opts to use his early speed to press Arabian Crown.

#7 TAWNY PORT

Sahin Civaci | Miguel Clement

The most interesting of the North American contenders. Tawny Port was a nose second in this last year to Silawi, in what was one of his best races ever. However, his career highlight came earlier this year when winning the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup at two miles, while his last-time-out effort - a big money win at Kentucky Downs going even further - really showed that stamina is his forte. He was just behind Ancient Egypt in the Christophe Clement this summer - that despite Ancient Egypt’s horror trip - which suggests to me that a test like this might find Tawny Port to be not quite fast enough at this distance. Although, if a true speed duel does emerge on this galloping oval, I could see stamina coming into play and his being able to win. He’s another much more likely to finish in the lower rungs of the frame on balance, however.