Erupt puts finishing touches on Canadian International preparations

Defending Pattison Canadian International champion Erupt and his stablemates are putting the finishing touches on their preparations for a big stakes weekend at Woodbine Racetrack.

 

Erupt, Messi and possible starter Can’thelpbelieving will fit in one more work on Monday at Motion’s Fair Hill, Maryland base before shipping to Woodbine mid-week. That work will help determine if Can’thelpbelieving will be joining the Motion entourage north of the border.

 

New to the Motion stable, European invader Erupt has made a good first impression on the veteran trainer since arriving after last month’s Sword Dancer Stakes (Grade 1) at Saratoga.

 

“He’s a very straightforward horse to be around, very easy to handle in the morning and he’s very workman-like when he goes about his breezes so I’ve been very happy with him,” said Motion of the Irish-bred Dubawi five-year-old, who is owned by Flaxman Holdings Ltd.

 

Like Erupt, Messi has past success over Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor Turf Course winning last year’s Sky Classic (Grade 2) Stakes and hit the board in the Northern Dancer (Grade 1) Stakes last time out despite an unlucky trip.

 

“I think he’s been a horse that runs anywhere, but I do think he seems to run well at Woodbine, which would make sense because he’s more of a European-type horse,” said Motion of the German-bred seven-year-old New Approach gelding he has campaigned over the past three years for owner/breeder Gestut Brummerhof.

 

“He’s been a real barn favourite; he’s a lovely horse to be around,” said Motion. “He went through a nasty episode a couple of years ago after he ran at Churchill in the fall where he almost lost an eye. He ended up missing some time over the winter, but other than that he’s been very straightforward – a lovely horse to be around, the kind of horse everybody wants to get on every day.

 

"I think he seems in really good form. I think he’s been a little unlucky, to be honest, in his last two starts. Even though he’s getting a little older, he seems to be very competitive.”

 

While Erupt will have a shot at joining a short list of horses to win the Pattison Canadian International in consecutive years, Motion will be aiming for his first-ever victory in the historic race after coming close with Up With the Birds, a runner-up to 2015 champion Cannock Chase. Past back-to-back winners of the race include Shepperton (1942-1943), George Royal (1965-1966) and Joshua Tree, who won the 2012 and 2013 editions for different trainers.

 

The beautifully bred four-year-old filly Quidura could also be looking to score her own Canadian stakes double for Motion next weekend. Following her victory in the Canadian Stakes (Grade 2) last month at Woodbine, Gestut Faehrhof’s homebred Dubawi daughter is expected to compete in next Sunday’s $500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (Grade 1).