Whereas the Euro shippers have had a stranglehold on the Canadian International over the last handful of years, there's been a more even split of overseas and North American-based winners in the female counterpart, the GI E. P. Taylor S.
Gestut Faerhof's Quidura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has done very little wrong since her arrival in this country and looks for an important first top-level success. Victorious in last year's GIII Valley View S., the homebred was runner-up in the GII New York S. over this trip and to Lady Eli (Divine Park) after making the majority of the pace in the GI Diana S. before returning to winning ways with a soft victory in the GII Canadian S. Sept. 16. With other speed signed on, Quidura should be able to sit a good trip from her low draw and should be in the finish.
Nezwaah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) makes her second straight appearance in the E. P. Taylor, having finished two-lengths' seventh behind Al's Gal (English Channel) 12 months ago. Conservatively handled this term, the bay was a dominating winner of a listed stakes in Scotland to kick off the season before a career-best in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh July 2, besting Rain Goddess (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by a convincing 3 1/4 lengths. Nezwaah was perhaps found out by the 12 furlongs of the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks last time Aug. 24, finishing just under six lengths behind Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in fourth. Andrea Atzeni is in for the ride.
Rain Goddess was the distant runner-up in Enable's G1 Irish Oaks conquest, then was eighth to Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) in Arlington's GI Beverly D. S. in August. She bounced back on 15 days' rest to win the G3 Snow Fairy S. and makes her 10th seasonal trip to the races Sunday afternoon.
Rainha Da Bateria (Broken Vow) is a two-time graded winner over this course, having defeated Dacita in last year's GII Canadian S. ahead of a close fifth in this. Dead-heat winner of the GII Dance Smartly S. July 2, the chestnut finished well to be fourth last time out in the Beverly D.
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