On Location: Woodbine

This weekend at Woodbine was really the last serious chance to punch a ticket to Louisville for three Breeders’ Cup grass races. As seems to be the custom for this weekend of racing, it was dominated by the Europeans who brought 15 of the 28 horse entered in the three “Win and You’re in” events: The Nearctic (Turf Sprint), E.P. Taylor (F&M Turf) and The Pattison Canadian International (Turf).

Returning to Woodbine for the second time in a month was UK invader Redwood, who had won the Northern Dancer (G1) over the same course and distance just 27 days earlier. However this time he would be accompanied by three other fellow Europeans: Chinchon, who won the United Nations (G1) earlier this summer at Monmouth, came from France, Mores Wells also from France and the lone 3-year-old in the race from Ireland, Joshua Tree.

I was at Woodbine for Redwood’s last victory and going into that race I thought he was a complete standout. His European form was good, but he also made a very impressive appearance in the paddock that day after the long trans-Atlantic journey. Therefore I was eager to see how he had responded to shipping back to England and then back to Canada in just under a month. Once I saw him again in the paddock I understand how he was bet down to favoritism for the International. Again, he looked an absolute picture in the paddock, exactly how he had presented himself in the Northern Dancer.