Woodbine: Nations Pride aims to repeat in Canadian International

This year’s edition of the Grade 1 Canadian International, set for this Saturday at Woodbine, showcases a wealth of world-class turf talents, including defending champion Nations Pride and Wathnan Racing duo Haunted Dream and Silawi.

The 85th edition of the International will see 10 runners, 3-year-olds and up, vie for the top prize in the 1 1/2-mile race contested over the inner turf course. 

Click here for Woodbine entries and results.

The accomplished duo of owner Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby return to Woodbine after teaming to win the Woodbine Mile (G1), a Breeders’ Cup win-and-you’re-in event, with Notable Speech on Sept. 13. 

In 2021, Godolphin and Appleby won the Canadian International when Walton Street produced a 5 3/4-length triumph with Frankie Dettori in the irons.  

Two years ago, it was multiple Grade-Group 1 winner Nations Pride who delivered his connections a coveted victory in the International.

Since then, the 6-year-old son of Teofilo out of the Oasis Dream mare Important Time has posted two wins, a second and a third from nine starts. His victories came in last year’s Arlington Million (G1) and this March’s Singspiel Stakes (G2) at Meydan.

“We came here confident that he was where he needed to be to win this race,” Appleby said of Nations Pride's Singspiel success. “He had valid excuses for his last two defeats as he’s only ever run twice right-handed around Bahrain and been beaten twice. Then at Gulfstream (Pegasus World Cup Turf, G1, in January), he had a torrid shipping, it took a long time to get there and conditions weren't really suitable.”   

Sporting an overall record of 23: 11-3-3, Nationls Pride arrives at his return International engagement off a third in the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1) on Aug. 9 at Saratoga.

Billy Loughnane will ride.

The striking Haunted Dream made his North American debut a winning one after taking the $150,000 Singspiel Stakes (G3), run over 1 3/8 miles on Woodbine’s inner turf course on Sept. 6. 

The 6-year-old, who powered home to a 1 1/2-length score in the marathon event run over firm ground and stopped the teletimer at 2:15.40, will look to make it two straight scores at the Toronto oval.

“We were planning to give him a break, to be honest,” trainer Hamad Al-Jehani said. “But after such a great effort in the Singspiel, it gave us confidence to send him back again for the International. It is a good opportunity to be there again, especially with it being a Grade 1 race. It was a very good performance for him. It was his first time on the track, and he handled it very well. 

“We had a great result and that is why we feel we should come back again with him.” 

Haunted Dream is now 39: 9-10-6. His most notable wins prior to the Singspiel came when he won consecutive editions, 2023-24, of the Al Safliya Cup (G3) in Qatar.

Sired by Oasis Dream out of the Galileo mare Red Halo, the well-traveled gelding bred by High Rollers, is owned by Wathnan Racing.

“He always tries his best,” Al-Jehani said. “It will not be easy in the International, but we know he will always give his best. It will be a challenge, for sure, but he is a horse we know can always come with a nice run.”

His stablemate, Silawi, a 5-year-old son of Dubawi, heads into the International off a three-quarter length triumph in the Winter Hill Stakes (G3) at Windsor.

Contested over 1 1/4 miles for 3-year-olds and up Aug. 23, the race featured a select field of five runners. 

Ridden by Cieren Fallon, the gelding, who won a handicap on the same course in May, claimed an early advantage and was able to fight off a stout challenge from mutuel choice Military Order to win in 2:03.41.

Silawi , who had come into the race off a fifth-place performance in the Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap at the same distance, produced his most significant score to date, earning his first Group badge in the process.

“He is a very nice horse,” Al-Jehani said. “He produced a very nice win. We have always said that Haunted Dream  and Silawi are on the same level. We had plans to send Silawi  to Bahrain for a Group 3 at the end of October, but we felt it was better to have two horses in this race at Woodbine.

“We feel Silawi can do well on the tighter Woodbine course.”

Other starters include accomplished Miguel Clement trainee Tawny Port.

A multiple graded-stakes winner, Tawny Port, owned by Peachtree Stable, has a record of 28: 5-5-5.

The 6-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile heads into his second first engagement at Woodbine off a pair of seconds, including last time out in the Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes (G2) on Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs.

“He is amazingly consistent and tough,” said Clement, who watched Tawny Port finish second in the Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational Stakes on Aug. 30. “He ran two very good races at Kentucky Downs a week apart. We were all extremely happy with those efforts.

“Even if he doesn’t win, he always runs a very good race. I expect him to be flying at the end. Tactically speaking, he will not be forwardly placed, so we hope there is some pace up front early.” ? ? ? 

Sahin Civaci will be in the irons.